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Rifle city councilor found dead in home

Ryan Hoffman
rhoffman@citizentelegram.com
Dirk Myers
Staff Photo |

RIFLE — Rifle City Councilor Dirk Myers was found dead in his home Thursday morning. He was 61.

A cause of death has not been determined, but initial indications were that it was a medical issue, said Rifle Police Chief John Dyer.

Myers was elected to council in September 2013, an election in which he cited economic development, the budget and seeing the completion of unfinished housing projects as his priorities. Prior to the election, he told The Citizen Telegram that he was “pro-business and pro-downtown” and that he had “achieved two major downtown revitalization projects in Albany and Schenectady, New York.”



“We are deeply saddened of the passing of Councilor Dirk Myers and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” City Manager Matt Sturgeon said in a statement.

Officers arrived at Myers’ home around 9:10 a.m. Thursday, where they were met by family members, who told the officers Myers was unresponsive, according to a press release.



In 2013, Myers told The Telegram that he lived with his fiancé and had four children — all grown.

Officers confirmed Myers was deceased and immediately notified the Garfield County coroner Thursday morning.

Garfield County Coroner Robert Glassmire confirmed Myers’ death and said he would release a cause and manner of death following the autopsy, if those details are immediately available, Friday afternoon.

Myers was the president and founder of Four Rivers Property Management, according to his social media accounts. His LinkedIn profile says he was a restaurant and movie theater manager and owner, and a city councilman in Gloversville, New York, before moving to Colorado in 2010.

During his time on the Rifle council he also served on a number of committees and boards including Garfield County Energy Advisory Board, Rifle Regional Chamber of Commerce, Club 20, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and the Colorado Municipal League, according to a press release

“He was very devoted to his duties as a councilman,” said Mayor Randy Winkler. “I can tell you that he took it very seriously.”


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