Matt Carr’s challenger agrees with him on immigration policy, and wants to do more to address drugs and domestic violence.
Whether that’s enough to sway Democratic voters in the August 18 primary for Teton County Sheriff remains to be seen.
A K-9, veteran background
Alberto Rojas has served with the Jackson Police Department for the past five years. Before that he was stationed in eastern Wyoming, and before that, served two tours in Iraq and Serbia with the U.S. Army.
He said he interviewed for a job with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Salt Lake City at the same time he was interviewing in Jackson.
The 45-year-old grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut, a melting pot where he felt stronger ties to his family roots in Puerto Rico. Moving out West was an adjustment, and in a small town, Rojas said he prefers to keep to himself — reading books beats rubbing shoulders with someone he arrested.
He shares his home in Jackson with Grizz, a 2-year-old chocolate labrador trained in drug detection. Rojas is currently the only canine handler on staff, though another is wrapping up training in Utah.
Alberto Rojas shares his home in Jackson with Grizz, a 2-year-old chocolate labrador trained in drug detection. Rojas is currently the only canine handler at the Jackson Police Department, though another is wrapping up training in Utah. (Courtesy)
The dogs, plus a more targeted approach to drug enforcement, could make a difference in a town he describes as “pretty safe” but still grappling with problems. Another issue he’d like to better address is domestic violence, especially in the undocumented community.
There’s a fear they will face deportation if they report a crime, Rojas said, but there shouldn’t be.
“If somebody comes in and they’re a victim of a crime and they are undocumented, we’re not gonna sit there and be like, ‘Oh, my God. Hold on, I’m gonna make a phone call real quick. That’s just not how it’s going to go down,’” he said.
Agreement on ICE
Rojas would, however, continue to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including the longtime practice of notifying the department when someone they have arrested does not have citizenship, and a 2025 policy to hold that person at the jail for an extra 48 hours for ICE.
The controversial partnership has prompted protests in Jackson and a petition with 540 signatories urging Carr to reverse course.
Carr, 55, said just as many people appreciate his work defending public safety. Further opposition could inflame critics including U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, who called him out publicly in Nov. 2024, he said.
“Representative Hageman and Senator [John] Barrasso, they’re very high up in their world of politics and I think they are partially responsible for the reason that ICE is not here running an office in town,” Carr said.
Honoring ICE’s administrative warrants has also prevented greater escalation, Carr said.
Although federal officers have removed more than 160 people from Teton County, those were all from the jail, rather than the high-profile raids seen in Chicago, Minneapolis, Memphis and other “sanctuary” cities.
Fears of similar intrusions in Jackson have motivated a new Rapid Response Network with an ICE watchdog hotline and volunteers.
Carr’s record
Carr said he is concerned with how Trump’s deportation agenda has been carried out, though not enough to push back.
“Now with the current national administration — which again, I have my issues with — they’re actually coming here and they’re taking folks out of our jail, which they never did in the past or rarely did in past,” Carr said.
Carr was first elected in 2018. He beat out Michelle Weber, a Republican who went on to become Jackson’s police chief three years later, a role she still holds. Carr was re-elected in 2022 and faced no opposition. He still takes time in the spring to train boat captains on Jenny Lake and helps ski patrols bomb for avalanches at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
Carr championed the Justice Center, which voters narrowly approved for public funding. He also helped secure a helicopter for Teton County Search and Rescue that was used to extinguish this month’s Spread Creek fire.
This week, County Commissioners advanced his proposal to pay some first responders, not including Jackson police, a $3,000 monthly housing stipend.
The biggest issue for many voters, though, may be his stance on immigration enforcement.
It’s “hard” to see people removed from the community, Carr said, “but if they’re here committing crimes and they’re a danger to the community, I just fall back on public safety. That’s my fallback.”
The sheriff added that new Wyoming laws banning sanctuary cities limit his discretion. His challenger agrees on both points.
“We have to do our job,” Rojas said. “Is it an easy thing to do? Absolutely not. But that’s what we raised our right hand and took the oath to do.”
He said some of Carr’s critics need to educate themselves on the letter of the law.
“I know that this is a sensitive topic,” he said. “But when people are habitual offenders, we have to enforce the law.”
Rojas said police officers operate with limited discretion. Becoming the top law enforcer in the county would allow him to inform policies and operate with greater agency. But not when it comes to immigration.
“When it comes to a thing like that: having an ICE hold put on somebody at the request of the government, there’s really no discretion with that,” Rojas said.
Calls for tough conversations
The issue is somewhat personal for Rojas. He is part of the Hispanic community, which makes up 17% of the county, according to the U.S. Census, but includes many undocumented residents. Some community members estimate the actual Latino community is up to 30% of the population.
Rojas draws a distinction between the “hard-working” immigrants who “mind their business” and “came here to have a better life” and repeat criminal offenders.
“Now it’s sensitive because we think about families and how people feel about it. But I’m telling you this from experience, from being on the street, people who break the law are the people who end up being put in jail,” he said.
Carr said he hears the same distinction from people who support the deportation effort: “It’s not an anti-immigrant sentiment at all. It’s about being here and being a hardworking immigrant versus somebody that chooses to violate the law continually or poses a risk to public safety.”
Rojas said it’s not hard for him to have discussions with the Spanish community about the delicate topic. If anything, he’d like to convene people more, especially around domestic violence.
“I’ve always wanted to do a seminar or some kind of gathering where we can have people come in the Spanish community, all walks of life,” he said.
Gaining trust takes time and the “courage” to have tough conversations, Rojas said.
