By Shannon Lukens. Courtesy photo.

 

The new police chief for Oak Creek in South Routt County has resigned. Jeffrey Mason of Barnesville, Georgia, moved to the area after Thanksgiving, and started the job Dec. 1. His plans included moving the rest of his family to Oak Creek after his son graduated from high school in Georgia.

 

Oak Creek Mayor Melissa Dobbins says Mason ran the Oak Creek Police Department for 22 days. “He seemed very committed by diving into updating technology and preparing to hire staff. Then his wife told him she decided she wasn’t going to move.”

 

Dobbins says Mason resigned on Friday, Dec. 19, effectively immediately at the end of the pay period.

 

The Town of Oak Creek will start searching for a new police chief on Monday, Dec. 22.

 

Dobbins tells Steamboat Radio News, “We are obviously very disappointed. We could see it as a setback, but it’s clear it wasn’t meant to be and the right person is out there for Oak Creek.”

 

Mason had replaced former Police Chief Ralph Maher, who retired on March 2025. Maher had come under question after an incident at the Colorado Bar in Oak Creek in January 2025.

 

 

Nov. 4, 2025 — Steamboat Radio Facebook Page on the hiring of Jeffrey Mason

March 21, 2024 – Steamboat Radio Facebook page on former Police Chief Ralph Maher’s retirement announcement