Free community programs run by police, sheriffs, and public health agencies — prescription and sharps disposal, self-defense classes, gun locks, car seat safety checks, and community policing events.
Wyoming's sheriffs, police departments, and public health agencies run a surprising number of free community programs that never come up in a search for "legal help" — prescription drug drop-boxes, free gun locks, self-defense classes, and car seat safety checks among them. None of these require a legal problem to use; they're preventive and community-oriented, offered at no cost to anyone who shows up.
A Wyoming Department of Health list of permanent prescription medication drop-box and donation sites hosted at sheriff's offices, police departments, public health offices, hospital pharmacies, and retail pharmacies across nearly every Wyoming county. Sites are split into donation sites (usable medicine donated to WDH's Medication Donation Program) and disposal drop-boxes (unwanted/expired medication safely destroyed).
Drug disposalPrescription take-backStatewideOpioid safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Any Wyoming resident.
How to get help
Consult the PDF list for the nearest county location, then bring unwanted or expired medication (pills, patches — no needles, liquids, or illicit drugs at most disposal boxes) directly to that site during normal business hours.
Contact
Wyoming Department of Health: (307) 777-7656 or (866) 571-0944. Example sites: Laramie County Sheriff's Dept, 1910 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne; Casper Police Dept, 201 N David St, Casper; Sheridan Police Dept, 45 W 12th St, Sheridan; Jackson Police Dept, 150 E Pearl Ave, Jackson; Rock Springs Police Dept, 221 C St, Rock Springs; Riverton Police Dept, 816 N Federal Blvd, Riverton; Cody Police Dept, 1402 Riverview Dr, Cody; and dozens more sites statewide — see the PDF for your county.
A permanent, year-round secure drop box at Cheyenne Police Department facilities for disposing of unwanted or expired prescription medications. Needles, sharps, liquids, and illegal drugs are not accepted.
Drug disposalPrescription take-back
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Any member of the public.
How to get help
Bring pills, patches, or capsules to the drop box in person — no appointment needed. Call the non-emergency line to confirm the current box location before visiting.
Contact
Cheyenne Police Department, 415 W 18th St, Cheyenne, WY 82001 (also listed at 2020 Capitol Ave). Non-emergency line: (307) 637-6500.
A twice-yearly (spring and fall) nationwide event where the DEA and local Wyoming law enforcement partners set up temporary collection sites to accept unused or expired prescription medications for safe disposal, no questions asked. Past Wyoming sites have included Rock Springs PD, Green River PD, and the Laramie County Sheriff's Office.
Drug disposalPrescription take-backDEA
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
General public.
How to get help
Visit DEATakeBack.com about 2-4 weeks before the event (held each April and October) to search by ZIP code for the nearest Wyoming collection site and confirm hours (typically 10 a.m.-2 p.m.).
Contact
DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division; site-specific contacts vary by host agency, e.g. Laramie County Sheriff's Office, (307) 633-4700.
Teton County Public Health Nursing accepts sealed, certified sharps containers (needles/syringes) for safe disposal at their front desk, and sells certified containers if a resident needs one.
Sharps disposalNeedle disposalHarm reduction
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Any resident with household sharps waste.
How to get help
Drop off sealed, closed, hard-plastic sharps containers Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., at the front desk. Loose needles, coffee cans, or open containers are not accepted.
Contact
Teton County Health Department, 460 E Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001. Phone: (307) 733-6401.
Cost
Free to drop off; containers cost $5-$10 if you need one
UWPD teaches Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), a free self-defense course offered roughly once per academic quarter over two sessions, with an optional padded-suit simulation so participants can practice physical responses in realistic scenarios.
Self-defense classCampus safetyFree training
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Historically promoted to women in the UW/Laramie community; described in local coverage as open registration.
How to get help
Contact UWPD directly to ask about the next scheduled RAD session — it is not offered continuously.
UWPD provides free, 24/7 walk-in storage of firearms and bows for UW students living in university housing, since Wyoming law generally bars possessing guns in student housing. Students can check weapons in and out anytime with a student ID and UWPD-issued Weapon Card.
Firearm storageCampus safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
UW students living in UW-owned housing.
How to get help
Bring the unloaded firearm/bow (max 3 firearms + 1 bow per student) to the UWPD facility to check in; no ammunition or magazines accepted.
A joint Cheyenne Regional Medical Center / Cheyenne Police Department / Laramie County Sheriff's Department initiative distributing free Project ChildSafe cable-style gun locks and safe-storage education, framed around suicide prevention. Locks are available at three pickup points with no paperwork required.
Gun lockFirearm safetySuicide prevention
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Any resident or gun owner.
How to get help
Walk into any of the three listed locations and ask for a free Project ChildSafe safety kit (cable lock plus safety instructions).
Contact
Cheyenne Police Department, 415 W. 18th St., Cheyenne; Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Emergency Dept, 214 E. 23rd St., Cheyenne; Laramie County Sheriff's Department, 1910 Pioneer Ave., Cheyenne.
An informal, recurring community-policing event where officers sit down with residents at a local coffee shop with no agenda to answer questions and build relationships. Confirmed active in Gillette, and documented in past years in Cheyenne, Casper, and Sheridan, typically tied to National Coffee With a Cop Day in early October.
Community policingPolice outreach
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Open to the public.
How to get help
Watch the host department's Facebook page or website for the announced date, time, and coffee-shop location, then just show up. Events are periodic, not a fixed weekly schedule.
Contact
Gillette Police Department (community involvement page); Casper Police Dept via Facebook; Sheridan Police Dept via sheridanwy.gov; Cheyenne Police Dept via cheyennepd.org.
Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers and other first responders become NHTSA-certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and perform free car seat inspections and installation help statewide, supplying technicians to local Safe Kids coalition events.
Car seat safetyChild passenger safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Any parent or caregiver in Wyoming.
How to get help
Contact the Wyoming Highway Safety Office to find a certified technician near you, or watch for local Safe Kids coalition check events.
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center leads the Safe Kids Laramie County coalition, running free car-seat check events, including the annual National Seat Check Saturday, where certified technicians confirm the right seat is being used and correctly installed.
Car seat safetyChild passenger safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Parents/caregivers in the Cheyenne/Laramie County area.
How to get help
Attend an announced check event or contact CRMC's injury prevention program about appointment-based checks.
Contact
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center injury prevention program; general line via cheyenneregional.org.
Campbell County Health's EMS staff run Safe Kids Campbell County, offering free by-appointment car seat checks plus periodic community check events, bike rodeos, and safety workshops. Replacement seats are available for a $50 contribution when funds allow.
Car seat safetyChild passenger safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Gillette/Campbell County families; low-income families may qualify for a subsidized replacement seat.
How to get help
Call to schedule a car-seat check appointment; bring the child, the current car seat, and the vehicle it's normally used in.
Contact
Campbell County Health, 501 S. Burma Ave., Gillette, WY 82716. Phone: (307) 688-1000 or (800) 247-5381.
Cost
Free check; $50 suggested contribution for a replacement seat if needed
Teton County Health Department helps residents obtain a car seat when funding allows and offers by-appointment car seat checks and installation support; Teton County Fire/EMS also offers separate installation help.
Car seat safetyChild passenger safety
Eligibility, how to apply, contact info
Who qualifies
Jackson/Teton County families; car-seat provision is subject to funding availability.
How to get help
Call the Teton County Health Department to request a car seat or book a check-up appointment, or book directly with Teton County Fire/EMS.
Contact
Teton County Health Department, 460 E Pearl Ave, Jackson, WY 83001. Phone: (307) 733-6401.
