Sheriff’s Office Mourns Deputy’s Off Duty Death

Date: 2-2-12

Source: Dan Bender, LPCSO PIO Desk: 970-382-7026
[email protected] Cell: 970-759-5549
La Plata County Sheriff’s Office
742 Turner Drive
Durango, Colorado 81303

NOTE: This news release is limited to the reaction of La Plata County Sheriff’s Office regarding the death of an off-duty Deputy who died Wednesday while snowmobiling on Molas Pass in San Juan County, Colorado. For information on the search mission itself and eventual coroner’s ruling, contact San Juan County Sheriff’s Office (Silverton, Colorado) and San Juan County, Colorado Coroner’s Office.

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Narrative:

Employees of La Plata County Sheriff’s Office (Durango, Colorado) are mourning the loss of a career Deputy. On Monday, 57 year old Hollis Holland went snowmobiling on his day off in the area of Molas Pass, south of Silverton in San Juan County, Colorado. Before he departed, he told his wife Patricia his route, destination, where he would park and when he expected to return. When he failed to return as planned, his wife reported him overdue. Holland’s body was found Monday night near his snowmobile southeast of the summit of Molas Pass.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Dan Bender, who was in the area during the search expressed the thanks of all La Plata Sheriff’s Office employees to San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and their search teams who conducted a night search in poor weather conditions. They especially thank the crew of an AIR CARE medical helicopter based out of Farmington, New Mexico that spotted Holland and his snowmobile. “I saw the helicopter hover over the location while it directed ground searchers via radio to the site on a very dark night.” Bender said. “The helicopter crew spotted him and the ground teams did a difficult recovery just as a major snow storm moved into the area” he said. ” Without their timely actions the family could have been faced with an extended time of not knowing where their loved one was or what his fate was” Bender said.

Hollis Holland began working for La Plata Sheriff’s Office on a part time basis in 1991, then as a full time Deputy for 19 years, beginning in 1992. During that time he received numerous commendations including being awarded the Badge of Merit in 2002 for leading an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a person who was intentional starting fires while firefighters were still battling the Missionary Ridge Fire. He received a second Badge of Merit in 2010 when he discovered a house that was on fire and rescued a woman who was still in the house and unaware of the fire.

Bender said Holland and his wife moved to the area in the 1970’s where he worked in a mine in Silverton and fell in love with the San Juan Mountains. He was a leader with San Juan County Search & Rescue for 10 years and an active member of the Silverton Avalanche School in the 1980’s
before joining La Plata Sheriff’s Office. He was also instrumental in the operation of the Deputy Ski Program that put LPCSO Deputies on the slopes of Durango Mountain Ski Area at Purgatory for enhanced security and quicker response times. Bender said Holland was also well known both in San Juan and La Plata Counties for filling in for Santa Claus when Santa was busy elsewhere.

Bender said, “I have known Hollis since the Avalanche School days in the 80’s. And in all that time don’t ever recall being with him without hearing him laugh at least once. He is missed.”

Holland leaves behind a wife, two adult sons and two grandchildren.

Bender said internment is expected to be in Silverton but could be delayed until Spring when better weather conditions allow. He believes the family and Sheriff’s Office will be discussing a possible memorial service in the area in the near future.

End Release. DLB