Sheriff's OHV team making Rubicon Trail safer for Jeepers

Off-road enthusiasts will be flocking to the Rubicon Trail once again this summer, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) team will be there to keep it safe.

The mission of the team is to provide education to the public, maintain the family friendly atmosphere and when necessary, use enforcement to support that education. In its fifteenth year on the Rubicon Trail, the OHV team is again helmed by Sergeant Bryan Brown and staffed with one full-time seasonal deputy and eight part-time deputies who work the OHV team, in addition to their usual duties.

Deputy Tony Broadfoot was selected this year to fill the seasonal, full-time position. He will be found with his partner, Deputy Jeremiah Hamon. The pair received advanced medical training and recently attended Wilderness First Responder School specifically designed to prepare them to provide aid during emergencies in remote areas

OHV deputies spend their time encouraging trail users to use the trail safely and in such a way that the trail is protected from environmental damage. They patrol in two, marked, Jeep Wranglers equipped with the normal complements of lights, radios, etc. that any patrol car has, in addition to, specialized equipment to deal with medical emergencies, vehicle rollovers, rugged off-road travel, and overnight stays on the trails.

The deputies spend their time encouraging trail users to use the trail safely and in such a way that the trail is protected from environmental damage.

With increased use, associated problems increase. Many of the problems surround the use of alcohol, and for that reason alcohol violations will be strictly enforced.

Trail patrols started the weekend of May 16, 2015 and will continue all summer. There are approximately a dozen planned events over the season to include three “jamborees” and other smaller events. Memorial Day weekend was a busy weekend with 510 persons and 204 vehicles contacted. The deputies provided assistance to four people, two of those were vehicle rollovers. Ten warnings were issued, but no citations or arrests. According to Sergeant Brown, the off-road community has been very receptive to the OHV team. Trail users have commented that they have returned to the Rubicon Trail after an absence because the patrols have returned the “family friendly” atmosphere. Sergeant Brown shared a story about a minor mechanical failure the OHV team experienced on the trail. When the trail users found out the deputies had a problem, rigs from all over came to offer assistance. The fact that the other trail users were willing to go out of their way to help the deputies says volumes about how the off-road community feels about the team and their efforts.

It is important to note that all vehicles on the Rubicon Trail need to be currently registered or “green stickered”( designated as off-highway).

Although government agencies provide the majority of the funding for the OHV team, many sponsors have provided support through donations. Many sponsors help the El Dorado Sheriff’s Office Off-Highway Vehicle Team:

Jeep Corporation – Mark A. Smith Edition Jeep, Jeep Jamboree USA, Varozza 4×4, Outfitters, Poly Performance, Synergy Mfg., Poison Spyder, Falken Tires, Raceline/Allied Wheels, FOX shocks, ARB, Two Guys Trail Gear, Jeepers Jamboree,
Friends of the Rubicon, Rubicon Trail Foundation, Artistic Photography by Tami, and El Dorado County Parks and Recreation.