Structure and the desire to be productive always have played a part in Jaime Alvidrez's life and are just some of the qualities that she has brought to the Cañon City Police Department since January 2022.
Alvidrez grew up down I-25 in Castle Rock and had a busy youth. She was an active participant in Junior Olympic Track and Field, as well as softball, soccer, and dance.
Immediately after graduating high school, she moved to Georgia to pursue a degree at the Art Institute of Atlanta -- but not in the field you may think. Though art schools generally bring to mind visions of young artists slaving over a charcoal sketch or staying up until midnight to finish the perfect oil painting, Alvidrez went for another career altogether: construction management.
However, a creative mind and spirit were some of the qualities necessary to pursue her dream of overseeing construction projects in commercial settings. After spending more than three years in Georgia, she transferred to CSU Fort Collins, where she met her future husband, Justin.
Their meet-cute is truly unique to them. Alvidrez was working to make a little extra money as a poker dealer in organized tournaments when she caught Justin's eye. He couldn't stay away from her, and the couple were happily married Aug. 30, 2015.
They happily welcomed their two children Carson, 10, and Brynnlee, 4, but found that big city life was not fitting the mold they had set for themselves.
"At the time, our son was getting ready to start kindergarten, and we wanted to get out of the metro area and actually be able to buy a house," Alvidrez said.
The growing family moved to Cañon City in 2017 when Justin took a job as a case manager at the Department of Corrections and Alvidrez was hired with the Fremont County District Attorney's Office. Alvidrez herself completed a short stint at DOC as an administrator but found a home that she adores at the local police department in 2022.
She quickly climbed the leadership ladder after starting as the records manager and currently holds the title of business manager -- a vital role that serves to oversee the department's budget, grants, record-keeping, and just about any other support-staff-driven aspect of the organization.
It's easy to see how her original goal of becoming a construction manager has played out well in her role as the business manager of the department.
"It kind of transitioned and changed over time," she said about her career goals. "When I had my son I thought, 'What am I going to do and what am I really interested in?' and that's how I fell into this law enforcement/public service side of things."
Whether she's working with Chief of Police John Schick, Commanders Tim Bell, or Chase Leonard within the department, Alvidrez is considered the go-to gal for numerous activities and needs
"I go through purchasing, getting through records requests and handling the records department, making sure I'm supporting everyone the best I can," she said. "I also handle grants and getting those reported to the city ... I also prepare and manage the budget."
In addition to her numerous responsibilities at the department, Alvidrez thoroughly enjoys traveling the state with her family for her son's baseball escapades and also enjoys hitting the outdoors and exploring the Arkansas River and taking scenic drives around the state. She also enjoys being at home with her family and is an avid baker -- which her children regularly love to take advantage of, particularly during the holiday season.
"That's what I wanted for our kids," she said about their life in Cañon City. "That small-town feel, the close-knit community, where they could go out in the street and ride their bikes and they could go down the street to the gas station and you're not worried."
Though no life is perfect, Alvidrez considers the one she has built with her family to be a good and one full of promise. Her position in the police department serves as just one aspect of lifelong fulfillment and she plans to continue doing it to the best of her ability to make Cañon City the safest it can be.
"Being able to serve the community and give back and to be a part of that in a small way is nice," she said. "I love this job and I'm so glad I get to do it."
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