may 2015 briefing room

1

The graying of

Douglas County

The Briefing Room | May 2015

Underdogs on top

D CSO motorcycle unit rides

clean and fast in Phoenix.

The DCSO educates seniors about scams that steal their life savings.

Protecting the nest egg

Slow & Serious

DCSO Deputies crack down on street racing.

2

The Briefing Room, a magazine of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Inside this issue:

Message from Sheriff Tony Spurlock 3

Slow and Serious - putting brakes on street racers 4

Welcome to the DCSO - new employees join posse 6

Judging Performance 8

Bob Britton retires 10

Thrills and Spills; DCSO Motorcycle Unit competes 12

A call sign from above 16

Rid your home of dangerous chemicals 18

Safe Haven for Craigslist buyers and sellers 19

Take your child to work day at the DCSO 20

COVER STORY - The Graying of Douglas County.

The Age Wave washes over the county and Colorado.

22

Sheriff Spurlock warning about new scams 25

Banding together to beat burglars 26

Getting ready for fire season 27

Awards Ceremony 28

Stepping back in time 29

40 years and counting... 30

DC Proud, DC Strong 5k and festival 32

Honor Guard at Mile High 33

Memorial Day Run 34

Conquering any trail 35

Wildland Fire Hand Crew training 36

Fallen Hero license plate 37

St. Baldrick’s 2015 38

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills 40

TWEET our commanders! 41

My internship experience at the DCSO 42

School Marshal marshals a snake 44

Suicide prevention awareness 45

Walking while you work to relieve stress 46

Deputies handcuff radio talk show hosts for fundraiser 48

THE BRIEFING ROOM

The magazine of the

Douglas County Sheriff's Office

4000 Justice Way

Castle Rock, CO 80109

COVER STORY - Older Adults

May 2015

COVER: The Graying of Douglas County The DCSO is focus-ing on educating seniors about scams and teaching them how to pro-tect their nest eggs.

THE BRIEFING ROOM is the maga-zine of the Douglas County Sher-iff’s Office. It’s produced by Community Re-sources, www.DCSheriff.net. EMAIL EDITOR & Public Infor-mation Officer/Social Media Di-rector, Deborah Sherman at [email protected]. CONTENT: Photography, copy, graphic design by Deborah Sher-man unless otherwise indicated. SUBMISSIONS: Have a story idea for The Briefing Room? Please send it to [email protected]. CONTACT: 303.660.7500

“I encourage every young person to check in on their parents and grandparents. Even take it one step further, and help out an older neighbor.” – Sheriff Tony Spurlock

MAD FACTS*:

The senior citizen is growing three times faster than the rest of the American popula-tion.

U.S. citizens over age 65 outnumber the entire population of Canada.

Of all those who have lived to age 65—in the history of the world—two-thirds are alive today.

*According to the Enrichment Journal, article by Charles Arn.

79-year-old Joan Goldberg

of Douglas County lives an

active lifestyle.

The senior takes long walks,

attends activity classes and

volunteers at the Senior

Center in Castle Rock.

https://twitter.com/dcsheriff

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200201/200201_012_new_world_sa.cfm

http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200201/200201_012_new_world_sa.cfm

3


HELP MOM AND DAD

When I attended the new sheriff training course held by the County Sheriffs of Colorado last year, I created two overarching

goals for my tenure: implement new technology that benefits every aspect of public safety and create new programs to

protect older Americans.

Yes, we’re all getting older, but especially in Douglas County. The population age 65 and older increased 178% from 2000 to 2010, according to U. S. Census information. In 2010, that age group made up more than 7% of our population while the age group between 55 and 64 years of age made up another 11%. Current estimates indicate that one in five county residents is age 60 or older.

The state’s graying too. From now until 2021, the number of

older adults in Colorado will increase 54%, according to the Col-orado Commission on Aging. Centenarians are also a fast grow-

ing part of the population. Today, there are about 650 Colora-dans 100 years and older. In 2021, there will be about 1,100

centenarians.

The aging and aged need their own programs and services. To meet our goals we have designated a senior liaison in Commu-

nity Resources. This liaison regularly meets with seniors, listens to their concerns, provides crime prevention information, facili-tates connections between seniors and resources and educates

the community about senior issues. He also helps seniors stay safe with specific information about the oldest –and newest --

scams that target our parents’ and grandparents’ nest eggs. Whether con men are calling them pretending to be a grand-

child in distress or encouraging them to pay fees for fake lottery winnings, we’re letting seniors know so they can protect them-

selves. We’re also creating messages for their children and grandchildren about the importance of checking in with and

taking care of their older relatives.

Tony Spurlock Douglas County Sheriff

4


I t’s red lights all the way for street racers across Douglas County and the Denver Metro

area. Law enforcement is cracking down on street racing to make roads safer. "Take it to the track. Take if off-road. Take it somewhere where you can do this, and you can do it in a com-petitive fashion," Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Steve Johnson said The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is not putting up with anyone putting their pedal to the metal. In April, deputies ticketed two drivers for racing about 107 mph westbound on Lincoln Avenue. Both drivers have to appear in court in June.

Deputies will be patrolling every night of the week for racers. Usually, hundreds of drivers meet on Sunday nights, then split off and may push it to the limit on highways, like C-470. Other race supporters will slow down or even stop traffic ahead and be-hind of the racers, putting many unsuspecting driv-ers in danger. "Nothing good can come from that,” Johnson said.

The crackdown is a partnership between the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado State Patrol, Castle Rock Police Department, Lone Tree Police Department and the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

The DCSO teams up with other law enforcement to put the brakes on street racers.

Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Steve Johnson talks

to reporters about the dangers of street racing.

5


S heriff Tony Spurlock joined metro area law, MADD, the NHTSA and the University of CO Hos-

pital in a show of force to get drivers to slow down and drive more safely. Most accidents that seriously injure or kill people are preventable because the drivers were distracted or impaired. Please drive slowly and take the privilege seriously.

Slow and Serious Combing forces to combat the leading cause of death and injury in car crashes

Across the metro area, serious motor vehicle collisions are interrupting and ending lives too

soon. But many of these accidents are preventable because they’re caused by either driving

while impaired from alcohol or drugs, or by being distracted while driving (i.e. texting, talk-

ing, etc.).

Distracted driver crashes car on Wolfensberger in

Douglas County on April 9, 2015 Media conference in Aurora about slow and steady

campaign.

6


Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock swears into office new deputies,

dispatchers, administrative workers and other employees.

7


Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock swears into office new deputies,

dispatchers, administrative workers and other employees.

8


Judging Performance DCSO wants court testimony to be top-notch

Police officer in Florida testifies in the George Zimmerman trial in 2013.

D eputies need to have many skills to do their jobs. But one that’s largely been taken for granted -- and ignored--is their ability to testify under oath, when the pressure’s on and eve-

rything’s at stake. A good presentation can help 18th Judicial District prosecutors make their case and send suspects who police worked hard to catch, to jail for their crimes. A poor presentation could mean suspects don’t get the sentences and punishments they deserve. Now, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is taking a stand for deputies who are summoned to take the stand. Sheriff Tony Spurlock and Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Steve Johnson teamed-up with District Attorney George Brauchler to prepare deputies for trials. On April 10th, more than 95 people from the DCSO attended that courtroom training. Among other things, participants learned about writing reports, preparing for trials and seeing defense attorneys points of view. DCSO is also asking for feedback on how its deputies perform on the stand. Beginning on April 10th, 2015, the office began requesting that every subpoena issued to law enforcement bureau personnel have an evaluation card attached. The card asks for district attorneys to com-plete a short survey about the deputy’s testimony. The results will then be used by the deputy and the DCSO to improve and/or maintain

quality assurance. “Each of us knows the importance of every aspect of the criminal jus-tice system and we know the value of preparing for our testimony and the importance of the testimony we give,” Chief Deputy Steve Johnson said. “This will help us provide quality court testimony in investiga-tions in Douglas County.” Among other things, the survey asks district attorneys to rate the dep-uty’s appearance, subject matter knowledge, preparation and objec-tivity. The survey also asks respondents to evaluate the witness’ self-assuredness, attitude, clarity of thought and responsiveness to ques-tions. Just as important are the deputy’s ability to express technical concepts understandably and ability to handle cross examination. The district attorney’s office has given a firm commitment that they will complete the evaluations. “We spend an enormous amount of time conducting thorough investi-gations, arresting suspects and going through the judicial process. So we want to make sure that we are well prepared to present our find-ings objectively and clearly in any court of law,” Johnson said.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock teaches workshop with 18th District D.A. George Brauchler.

9


Judging Performance DCSO wants court testimony to be top-notch

D eputies need to have many skills to do their jobs. But one that’s largely been taken for granted -- and ignored--is their ability to testify under oath, when the pressure’s on and eve-

rything’s at stake. A good presentation can help 18th Judicial District prosecutors make their case and send suspects who police worked hard to catch, to jail for their crimes. A poor presentation could mean suspects don’t get the sentences and punishments they deserve. Now, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is taking a stand for deputies who are summoned to take the stand. Sheriff Tony Spurlock and Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Steve Johnson teamed-up with District Attorney George Brauchler to prepare deputies for trials. On April 10th, more than 95 people from the DCSO attended that courtroom training. Among other things, participants learned about writing reports, preparing for trials and seeing defense attorneys points of view. DCSO is also asking for feedback on how its deputies perform on the stand. Beginning on April 10th, 2015, the office began requesting that every subpoena issued to law enforcement bureau personnel have an evaluation card attached. The card asks for district attorneys to com-plete a short survey about the deputy’s testimony. The results will then be used by the deputy and the DCSO to improve and/or maintain

quality assurance. “Each of us knows the importance of every aspect of the criminal jus-tice system and we know the value of preparing for our testimony and the importance of the testimony we give,” Chief Deputy Steve Johnson said. “This will help us provide quality court testimony in investiga-tions in Douglas County.” Among other things, the survey asks district attorneys to rate the dep-uty’s appearance, subject matter knowledge, preparation and objec-tivity. The survey also asks respondents to evaluate the witness’ self-assuredness, attitude, clarity of thought and responsiveness to ques-tions. Just as important are the deputy’s ability to express technical concepts understandably and ability to handle cross examination. The district attorney’s office has given a firm commitment that they will complete the evaluations. “We spend an enormous amount of time conducting thorough investi-gations, arresting suspects and going through the judicial process. So we want to make sure that we are well prepared to present our find-ings objectively and clearly in any court of law,” Johnson said.

Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock teaches workshop with 18th District D.A. George Brauchler.

Co

urt tra

inin

g in

18th

Jud

icial D

istrict.

10


Bye, Bob! Bob Britton retires from the DCSO, where people “are straight-up.”

F arewell, Bob Britton. Friday, May 1st was his last

day at work after serving residents and the Doug-

las County Sheriff's Office for 24 years. He's retir-

ing to spend time with his family and work on his ranch

that has piglets and cows and a smart, faithful dog named

“Boo.”

Bob's had quite the life. He earned a bachelor’s and mas-

ter’s degree in agriculture education at CSU and was a

teacher. At nights and on weekends, he was also a musi-

cian. He sang and played music at events across the country, including three times at the Grand

Ole Opry. Bob’s band was also the opening act for stars like Merle Haggard.

He was also a professional bull rider and has list of broken bones to prove it. He says he was

just a ranch kid with guts at the age of 13 looking for a challenge/ Bob rode through high school

and college. So we asked him, "What's tougher? Going 8 seconds or working for the Sheriff?"

He laughed and said rodeo riding's tougher. "But there's still of a lot of bull in both places."

Bob has a great relationship with Sheriff Tony Spurlock, who he affectionately calls “T”. Long

ago, the Sheriff nicknamed Bob “Roberta” because he worked in an office with two ladies. Bob

says he’s not going to miss getting up at five in the morning, but he will miss the people.

“The people here are honest, they’re straight-up. What you see is what you get. It comes

straight from the shoulder, and I like that,” he said. “I am going to miss it.”

And we’ll miss him. The sheriff, commanders, friends and family sent him off in style last week

with a big going away party, gifts and a yummy cake. So, this ride’s over for bob. He’s climbing

on a gentle horse at age 72 and riding off where his wife of 54 years, 5 children, and more than

a dozen grandkids and great grandkids will welcome him home.

Bob poses with his boss Captain Brad Heyden on his last day of work. (Bob, even though you’re wearing camouflage, we can still see you.)

11


Bob’s dog Boo sniffs new piglets on the ranch.

“T” gives “Roberta”

some going away

gifts.

12


Thrills and Spills Deputies on two-wheels compete against other riders na-

tionwide for title of fastest, most skilled, slowest and skilled

and best team. The bikers in blue from DCSO, considered the

underdogs, come out on top.

Story next page.

13


Chris Washburn, sergeant of the Traffic Unit,

in the cones

14


F or three months, they trained hard. Tight turns, slow and steady, speed and accuracy. While most law enforcement motorcycle teams train year round for the Southwest Police Training and Motorcycle Competition in Phoenix in April, the motorcycle unit at the Douglas

County Sheriff’s Office was only able to practice six times because they were needed on the road, working. Their biggest rival, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMDP) with 120 full time riders, always send their best eight to the competition. For the last several years, they’ve swept it, taking first through third places in every skill set. The DCSO team has one part-time and five full-time riders. On top of that, this would be the first time in 19 years any Colorado agency was going to compete. That made the DCSO unit the underdogs and unknown.

On the day of the competition, the DCSO bikers in blue rode hard, fast and clean. By the end of the morning session of the individual competition, Dep-uty Ryan Bechert was in first place in front of seven LVMPD officers. Deputy John Compton was 8th, with the rest of the unit in the top 20. In the afternoon, Bechert’s wheel touched a cone, which gave him a two sec-ond penalty and steered him into fifth place.

Deputy Trey Arnold posted the fastest clean run ever by a Harley Davidson rider and just 9/10th of one second behind the course record, posted by a more nimble and faster Honda.

When the day was done, four of the top ten spots were held by DCSO motor officers. Deputies Arnold, Bechert, McDowell and Compton. LVMPD took the top three spots.

On the slow ride, officers must negotiate a short, twisty course without putting their feet down, hitting cones or stopping. Deputy Felix Claudio went first, taking third place. Then, Deputy Arnold crawled his bike even slower, knocking Claudio into fourth. They were both knocked out of place by a LVMPD officer who took third followed by Arnold and Claudio.

The final skill competition, the four-man team ride, requires precise timing as the riders weave through cone patterns close together. After some fierce competition, Arnold, Bechert, Claudio and McDowell finished in second place, bringing trophies home. Compton and Washburn, who teamed up with Phoenix PD, finished in third place, also bringing home trophies.

“The whole experience was an incredible amount of work, and the dedication of the motor officers to train and practice as hard as they did in preparation should be noted,” said Sgt. Washburn. “I am proud of the motor unit beyond words and very happy to have been with them to represent the DCSO at this regional competition. The other agencies that we competed against definitely realize that the DCSO is a premier agency with well-trained, well-disciplined deputies. I can’t wait until we get another opportunity to represent the sheriff’s office in a similar way.” Unknown underdogs no more. Sheriff Spurlock is proud of the team. More than just a competition, the training keeps the riders sharp and safe on the road in an inherently danger-ous job.

“The DCSO motor unit went to the competition in Phoenix definite underdogs and unknown.” -Sgt. Chris Washburn, DCSO

DCSO

team

roots for

riders.

Not for long. After a few practice runs, even the Las Vegas team realized, “These Colorado boys can ride motorcycles,” said Ser-geant Chris Washburn, leader of the DCSO motorcycle unit.

Deputy Ryan Bechert

During the pairs ride, two motorcycles are tethered side by side with a three foot long rope. The riders need to go through a cone course fast and clean without breaking the rope or getting any other penalties. Ar-nold and Bechert finished just out of the trophy ranking.

http://home.comcast.net/~kmvkz1000/site/?/home/


http://www.dcsheriff.net/patrol/motorcycle-unit/

15


F or three months, they trained hard. Tight turns, slow and steady, speed and accuracy. While most law enforcement motorcycle teams train year round for the Southwest Police Training and Motorcycle Competition in Phoenix in April, the motorcycle unit at the Douglas

County Sheriff’s Office was only able to practice six times because they were needed on the road, working. Their biggest rival, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMDP) with 120 full time riders, always send their best eight to the competition. For the last several years, they’ve swept it, taking first through third places in every skill set. The DCSO team has one part-time and five full-time riders. On top of that, this would be the first time in 19 years any Colorado agency was going to compete. That made the DCSO unit the underdogs and unknown.

On the day of the competition, the DCSO bikers in blue rode hard, fast and clean. By the end of the morning session of the individual competition, Dep-uty Ryan Bechert was in first place in front of seven LVMPD officers. Deputy John Compton was 8th, with the rest of the unit in the top 20. In the afternoon, Bechert’s wheel touched a cone, which gave him a two sec-ond penalty and steered him into fifth place.

Deputy Trey Arnold posted the fastest clean run ever by a Harley Davidson rider and just 9/10th of one second behind the course record, posted by a more nimble and faster Honda.

When the day was done, four of the top ten spots were held by DCSO motor officers. Deputies Arnold, Bechert, McDowell and Compton. LVMPD took the top three spots.

On the slow ride, officers must negotiate a short, twisty course without putting their feet down, hitting cones or stopping. Deputy Felix Claudio went first, taking third place. Then, Deputy Arnold crawled his bike even slower, knocking Claudio into fourth. They were both knocked out of place by a LVMPD officer who took third followed by Arnold and Claudio.

The final skill competition, the four-man team ride, requires precise timing as the riders weave through cone patterns close together. After some fierce competition, Arnold, Bechert, Claudio and McDowell finished in second place, bringing trophies home. Compton and Washburn, who teamed up with Phoenix PD, finished in third place, also bringing home trophies.

“The whole experience was an incredible amount of work, and the dedication of the motor officers to train and practice as hard as they did in preparation should be noted,” said Sgt. Washburn. “I am proud of the motor unit beyond words and very happy to have been with them to represent the DCSO at this regional competition. The other agencies that we competed against definitely realize that the DCSO is a premier agency with well-trained, well-disciplined deputies. I can’t wait until we get another opportunity to represent the sheriff’s office in a similar way.” Unknown underdogs no more. Sheriff Spurlock is proud of the team. More than just a competition, the training keeps the riders sharp and safe on the road in an inherently danger-ous job.

“The DCSO motor unit went to the competition in Phoenix definite underdogs and unknown.” -Sgt. Chris Washburn, DCSO

Deputy Trey

Arnold wins

fastest clean

ride on Harley.

DCSO’s motorcycle

unit gets ready to

rumble.

During the pairs ride, two motorcycles are tethered side by side with a three foot long rope. The riders need to go through a cone course fast and clean without breaking the rope or getting any other penalties. Ar-nold and Bechert finished just out of the trophy ranking.

Deputy Felix

Claudio moves

quickly.

Deputy Phillip

McDowell speeds

up.

Deputy John

Compton

negotiates the

course.



http://www.dcsheriff.net/patrol/motorcycle-unit/

16


A call sign from above “#59 and #64, please respond”

They could have been assigned any number from one to 150 during the Southwest Police Motorcycle Training and Competition in Phoenix last month. Instead, two riders on the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office team were randomly assigned competition numbers that didn’t feel so ran-dom. Sgt. Chris Washburn, the team leader, became competitor 59. That was also his radio call number as a young deputy patrolling Douglas County on two wheels with his then-partner and friend, Deputy Ron King. Competitor Deputy Trey Arnold was assigned 64, the call sign for Ron King. Almost 16 years ago, Washburn and King were on their bikes, returning to the station from an as-signment. A drunk driver slammed into them. He killed King, a beloved deputy who had served his community for 20 years. The driver also seriously injured Washburn, who fought for years to recov-er. Was it coincidence the motorcycle unit, competing for the first time since King’s death, was as-signed 59 and 64? Or was it a call sign from above.

17


18


Rid your home of

hazardous chemicals

Household chemical roundups offer a means for the public to properly dispose of household waste that could otherwise contaminate the water supply, air and landfills. Many common products found in one’s household may be hazardous to people or the environment if they are not used and disposed of properly. All roundup participants are asked to show proof of residence in Douglas County and pay $25 when dropping off chemicals. There will also be a free drop-and-swap area on site where people can take household cleaners, paint, car wax, antifreeze, fertilizer and garden products still in their original con-tainers. Accepted items to drop off include house and garden chemicals, automotive fluids, fluorescent light bulbs, fuels, propane tanks between 1 and 20 pounds, vehicle and household batteries, items con-taining mercury, car and pickup truck tires off the rim, and oil-based paint and paint products. Items that will not be accepted include business and commercial waste, radioactive waste, electronic waste (computers, TVs, etc.), explosive waste, smoke detectors, waste containing asbestos, com-pressed gases other than propane, tractor tires, scrap metal and medical waste. The Tri-County Health department will host the first chemical roundup on May 9th at the Parker Joint Services Center, 17801 E. Plaza Drive, Parker, CO from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Other 2015 roundups for Douglas County residents include Aug. 8 at 3720 Redstone Circle in Highlands Ranch and Sept. 12 at 175 Kellog Court in Castle Rock. All three roundups are sched-uled for 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more information or to volunteer to help, please visit www.tchd.org/250/Home-Chemical-Waste or call Ellen Kennedy at 720-200-1592

http://www.tchd.org/250/Home-Chemical-Waste

http://www.tchd.org/250/Home-Chemical-Waste

19


T he Douglas County Sheriff's Office is offering its parking lot as a "safe haven" for buyers and sellers on Craigslist. If you're completing an online transaction, you

can make the exchange here. “Most Internet-related crime involves personal scams and not in-person transactions”, Sheriff Tony Spurlock said, who described the parking lot as "a preventative measure to ensure there's a safe place to allow (buyers and sellers) to conduct their normal lives and business." The sheriff’s office staff won't be involved in the transactions or oversee them. If you plan on buying or selling items via Craigslist or any other online site, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office suggests that you conduct your transaction at the closest law enforcement station to protect both the buyer and seller. Douglas County Sheriff’s Offices Douglas County Justice Center Highlands Ranch substation 4000 Justice Way, Castle Rock 9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch

Safe Haven

20


21


22


79-year-old Joan Goldberg

in Douglas County credits

her youthful demeanor to

staying physically active,

keeping her mind sharp

and volunteering.

23


W hen 79-year-old Joan Goldberg moved to Castle Rock from Golden six year ago, her daughter worried her mom wouldn’t

have many friends or much to do. Wendy Gable did-n’t realize her mom was moving to a so-called senior paradise. In Douglas County, one out of every five residents is 60 or older. Seniors make up 7.1% of the county’s population, compared to 4% five years ago. “It was so easy for mom to make the transition,” said Wendy. “She’s happy, she’s really involved in the community, she’s made all these friends and they go out to eat and to the theater. I don’t have to worry about her.” By the year 2013, seniors are expected to be 20% of the county population. In Colorado alone, the De-partment of Human Services expects in six years, there will be about 1,100 centenarians or people 100 years or older. That’s why Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock has made protecting seniors a top priority. Their declin-ing mental and physical health makes them perfect targets for con men duping them out of their life sav-ings. The scams keep coming fast and furiously through mail, the phone and worldwide web. “It just doesn’t stop. Scammers keep putting new twists on old cons to trick and confuse their victims. The bad guys deliberately try to scare older adults to send money, then count on them being too embar-rassed to report the crime after it happens,” Sheriff Spurlock said. “That’s why I encourage everyone to check in on their moms, dads and grandparents. Ask questions about their finances to make sure they’re not being swindled out of their nest eggs.”

Joan Goldberg almost got taken by a scheme six years ago. Someone called pretending to be her grandson who was behind bars in Canada and need-ed $1500 to bail out. Joan was too shaken up to real-ize the voice wasn’t her grandson’s. “Emotionally you’re caught up, and I responded, ‘Oh my God, are you OK?’” Joan said. She was in tears because she didn’t have the money, so she called her daughter Wendy. “If she would have had the money, she would have written them a check,” Wen-dy said. “She called me crying saying, ‘My grandson’s in trouble in Cana-da.’ But I told her he is fine, this is a scam and it’s on the news.” Even more troubling to Wendy, her mom inadvert-ently gave the bad guys personal information, includ-ing Wendy’s name, phone number and told them she had just received an inheritance. “If she gave them enough of my personal infor-mation, they could steal my identity,” Wendy said. Wendy came up with an idea to protect her mom from future questionable calls. She told Joan to let every single phone call go to voice mail – and then only pick up the call if she recognizes the person call-ing or knows the phone number or name on caller I.D.

Residents are rapidly aging in Douglas County and the Sheriff wants to protect them.

Wendy Gable is Joan’s daughter.

Joan and her daughter Wendy volunteering at a health fair in

Castle Rock.

24


“I told her if you don’t know who it is, don’t answer it,” Wendy said. That way, she’s not feeding into their story emotionally and inadvertently giving out infor-mation. Sheriff Spurlock says that’s a great tip to help keep seniors safe from phone scams. He has several other safety tips:

If you are contacted by someone identifying him-

self as Law Enforcement and demanding money, simply hang up and call your local law enforce-ment agency immediately. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reminds you that no law enforce-ment agency contacts residents by phone, e-mail or regular mail and tells them to pay fees/fines by wiring money, using pre-paid money cards, using a money telegram, or using similar methods.

Visit Grants.gov or Govloans.gov sites to find

grants and loans available thru the government. Don’t be fooled by other sites that have ‘government’ or other official words in the title.

If you receive a check along with a request for a

pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot Money-Pak or other wire transfer fee payment, be wary.

Don’t use pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot

MoneyPak or other wire transfer to pay taxes or fees to claim “winnings” on lottery or prize pro-motions.

If something doesn’t feel right – pay attention to

your instincts and don’t become a victim. Beware of cheap home repair work that would

otherwise be expensive, regardless of the reason given. The con artist may just do part of the work, use shoddy materials and untrained workers, or simply take your deposit and never return.

Don't buy health products or treatments that promise a quick and dramatic cure, appeals to emotion instead of reason, or a single product that cures many ills.

Beware of these: Imposter Scams The scammer will contact you via phone or

email and claim to be a law enforcement officer, a government agent (such as IRS), a debt collector, a utility company representa-tive, or a bail bondsman. The imposter will often threaten to issue an arrest warrant, con-tact law enforcement, shut off a utility, or ar-rest a relative, unless immediate payment with a pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot MoneyPak or other wire transfer is made.

Grant Fraud and Lottery Scams The scammer will contact you with “news”

that you are a recipient or winner of a grant or lottery prize. In order to receive the grant or collect your lottery winnings, the scammer says you have to pay fees or taxes right away via pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot MoneyPak or other wire transfer. Sometimes the scammer will send you a check as an ad-vance to “help” cover taxes and fees, with the empty promise of releasing the rest of the funds after you pay taxes/fees with a Money-Pak. The check, of course, is later discovered to be fake.

Online Auction/Sale Scams The scammer will post online ads for goods or

services and request payment by pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot MoneyPak or other wire transfer. The goods or services don’t arrive and the “seller” is unreachable.

Romance Scams Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites

and will go to great lengths to begin a long-distance relationship with you. At some point the fake profiler will tell you about a financial hardship or an ill family member and ask for you to send money via pre-paid credit or debit card, Green Dot MoneyPak or other wire

transfer.

http://grants.gov

http://www.govloans.gov

25


Sheriff Spurlock warns you

about the latest scams.

Cick on the movies to watch

https://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountySheriff/videos/vb.75292231039/10153693065926040/?type=2&theater



26


Band together

to beat burglars

E ven though the crime rate in Douglas County is low in comparison to other counties in the Den-

ver area, people who live here have experienced daytime residential burglaries. As your sheriff

my top priority is keeping you safe from crime, but I can’t do it effectively without your assis-

tance.

Burglars are opportunists who are much more likely to target your home if you make it easy for them. In

this article you will receive information regarding how burglars operate, as well as tips to dramatically

reduce your chances of becoming a burglary victim.

Some burglars are scam artists who check out your home by posing as a legitimate visitor. Others may

knock on your door to see if anyone is home and then tell you they are looking for someone else if you

answer the door, but they may try to break in if no one answers when they knock. Most residential bur-

glaries occur during the day, burglars take less than one minute to break in, and spend no more than 10

minutes inside. They typically take small items that are easy to find and carry like money, jewelry, guns

and small electronic devices.

Helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim:

Join Neighborhood Watch and work with your neighbors to look out for each other and report suspi-

cious activities to police while they are occurring.

Close and lock all doors and windows during the day and night – including garage doors and the door

from the garage into the home.

Don’t let strangers into your home or provide your schedule to people you don’t know or trust.

Don’t leave valuables in plain view inside or outside your home.

Make your home look “lived in” even when you aren’t home by stopping mail, papers, and having

lights on timers .

For more useful information on crime prevention, please contact Community Resources at 303-660-7544.

27


Are you ready if fire comes?

Visit the County’s new wildfire preparedness

page and take a moment to sign up for CODE

RED emergency notifications, view the Coun-

ty’s Disaster Preparedness Guide and more.

http://www.douglas.co.us/land/wildfire-mitigation/wildfirepreparedness/

http://www.douglas.co.us/land/wildfire-mitigation/wildfirepreparedness/

http://www.dcsheriff.net/emergency-mass-notification-system/

http://www.dcsheriff.net/emergency-mass-notification-system/

28


29


Stepping back in time...

Sheriff Spurlock helped the family of former Sheriff John Hammond pour through historical records

from the time he served in 1947 through 1970. Spurlock shared the documents with Hammond's

daughter Bonnie Bell, grandson John Bell and his wife, Patti.

Fun fact: Sheriff John L. Hammond holds the title as Doug-

las County's longest serving sheriff.

Sheriff Hammond on his horse Penny in

1948

30


40 years and counting… Over the years, Lt. Larry Noble has worked for five sheriffs.

L arry Nobel has seen it all in his forty years at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Of-fice. He worked here before deputies used portable radios (now they use

smart phones), before there were strobe lights on patrol cars (now there are cameras and computers in the cars), and has outlasted five sheriff’s. As Douglas County Com-missioner Roger Partridge put it, “He has served millions and protected millions.” When Nobel started as a dispatcher in 1975 making $425 a month at the age of 20, mood rings and Rubik’s cubes were popular, along with pet rocks and 8-track tapes. He got a $200 a month boost in pay when he became a patrol deputy a year later. It was a rough start. The first traffic ticket he wrote when a driver ran a stop sign was dismissed because the driver told the judge he stopped and Noble didn’t get a chance to tell his side of the story. Today, Nobel is a lieutenant in the Patrol Division and widely respected by the men and women who report to him. “This is a family. And I appreciate being part of this family,” Nobel said at a party in January at the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to recognize his years of ser-vice. Sheriff Tony Spurlock says he’s proud to be Noble’s sheriff and to have worked with him for 35 years. Spurlock says Nobel has served with honor and distinction. “If you think about the things that Larry has seen and done in 40 years to serve the people in Douglas County, it’s unimaginable,” Sheriff Tony Spurlock said. “He has been part of horrific events, seen tragic and wonderful things, and he’s still here willing to serve.” Former Sheriff Steve Zotos also thanked Nobel for his service. “I appreciate all of your years of dedication. You helped us grow and become an exceptional depart-ment,” Zotos said. Former Sheriff David Weaver said Noble has always been someone to count on to get things done. “It’s about the heart, dedication and giving it all. You’re truly a part of the DCSO foundation,” Weaver said. Lt. Noble received a standing ovation from the crowd of his family and friends after he said he appreciated the support and the chance to be part of the DCSO family. Along with a plaque, Sheriff Spurlock also gave Noble a Magic 8 Ball to “predict” his future. When Nobel asked if he would retire soon, the 8 Ball showed, “No sign.”

31


40 years and counting… Over the years, Lt. Larry Noble has worked for five sheriffs.

L arry Nobel has seen it all in his forty years at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Of-fice. He worked here before deputies used portable radios (now they use

smart phones), before there were strobe lights on patrol cars (now there are cameras and computers in the cars), and has outlasted five sheriff’s. As Douglas County Com-missioner Roger Partridge put it, “He has served millions and protected millions.” When Nobel started as a dispatcher in 1975 making $425 a month at the age of 20, mood rings and Rubik’s cubes were popular, along with pet rocks and 8-track tapes. He got a $200 a month boost in pay when he became a patrol deputy a year later. It was a rough start. The first traffic ticket he wrote when a driver ran a stop sign was dismissed because the driver told the judge he stopped and Noble didn’t get a chance to tell his side of the story. Today, Nobel is a lieutenant in the Patrol Division and widely respected by the men and women who report to him. “This is a family. And I appreciate being part of this family,” Nobel said at a party in January at the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to recognize his years of ser-vice. Sheriff Tony Spurlock says he’s proud to be Noble’s sheriff and to have worked with him for 35 years. Spurlock says Nobel has served with honor and distinction. “If you think about the things that Larry has seen and done in 40 years to serve the people in Douglas County, it’s unimaginable,” Sheriff Tony Spurlock said. “He has been part of horrific events, seen tragic and wonderful things, and he’s still here willing to serve.” Former Sheriff Steve Zotos also thanked Nobel for his service. “I appreciate all of your years of dedication. You helped us grow and become an exceptional depart-ment,” Zotos said. Former Sheriff David Weaver said Noble has always been someone to count on to get things done. “It’s about the heart, dedication and giving it all. You’re truly a part of the DCSO foundation,” Weaver said. Lt. Noble received a standing ovation from the crowd of his family and friends after he said he appreciated the support and the chance to be part of the DCSO family. Along with a plaque, Sheriff Spurlock also gave Noble a Magic 8 Ball to “predict” his future. When Nobel asked if he would retire soon, the 8 Ball showed, “No sign.”

32


You’re invited to the DC Proud DC Strong

5k and Festival

The event, held by alumni and friends of Douglas County, is Saturday, May 9th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Location: Douglas County High School, 2842 Front Street, Castle Rock, Colorado. For more information, click here.

PUBLIC INPUT OPPORTUNITY ON

DOUGLAS COUNTY MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION

PLAN UPDATE--

(That’s an all hazards plan for a tornado, wildfire, flooding, to work on mitigating the impact to property owners and

the county. )

Douglas County Emergency Management is hosting an open house and workshop.

The open house is part of the Douglas County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning

Project. Douglas County, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Larkspur, Lone Tree, Parker,

and the Denver Water Board are developing a comprehensive Multi-Hazard Miti-

gation Plan Update to reduce the vulnerability of people and impact to property in

the County.

All interested parties are invited. The Multi-Hazards Planning Open House will be

held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 between 6:00 and 7:30pm at the Douglas

County Events Center (500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock, CO). For more

information on this project, contact Anne Walton at 303-814-4356 or alwal-

[email protected].

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-proud-dc-strong-5k-and-festival-tickets-16036075333?aff=eivtefrnd

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-proud-dc-strong-5k-and-festival-tickets-16036075333?aff=eivtefrnd

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-proud-dc-strong-5k-and-festival-tickets-16036075333?aff=eivtefrnd?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=evitefrnd&utm_term=eventimage

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

33


T he Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard posted the colors during the Public Safety Radio Summit at Mile High Stadium on March 12, 2015.

The honor guard conducted the opening flag ceremony while Deputy - Chaplain Tim Ralph gave the invocation.

The guard includes Investigations Detective Christine Brite, Detention Deputy Ian Hutcheon, Patrol Deputy Daniel Potter, Patrol Deputy Derek Castellano and Detention Deputy Chad Mason.

On the right is Deputy-Chaplain Tim Ralph.

34


35


D ouglas County Sheriff Deputies attended the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) training course in Chandler, Ari-zona.

The IPMBA is the premier training organization for public safety cyclists. Since its founding in 1992, IPMBA has trained thousands of public safety professionals in safe and effective law enforcement bicycle operations.

Congratulations to Deputies Lyle Peterson, Mike Adams, and Erik Brown for complet-ing the training course!

From tame to treacherous

36


Wildland fire hand crew

training at Spruce Mountain

Open Space in Larkspur.

In April, the crew cut brush and limbs away from the trails and put the slash over areas where people have been cutting off the switchbacks, said DCSO Wildland Fire Coordinator Mike Alexander.

The work simulates the environment and tactics used to cut fire line on a wild-fire which means it helps open space and provides training for the hand crew.

37


Fallen Hero License Plates

W herever you go, you can be recognizing the risks police officers face every day and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect us.

You can do that with a Fallen Hero license plate, which is now being offered by the Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles. To get one, the driver has to make a $50 donation to Colorado COPS, which stands for Colorado Concerns of Police Survivors. It’s an easy way to show pride, support officer and display your gratitude to those who have died serving our communities. At least 3,000 license plates have to be sold by January, 2018 to keep them in production. The president of Colorado COPS says they haven’t sold enough yet to meet the minimum requirement. “Our records show that we are only at 44% (1330) of the 3000 plates requirement. In order for COPS to main-tain the financial support we need to serve our survivors it is imperative that we reach the minimum mile-stone and keep the distributing these beautiful plates for years to come,“ Don Enloe, president of Colorado COPS, said. There is no simpler or quicker way to show your support for our important mission. The money goes straight to Colorado COPS and stays here to support Colorado Survivors, getting them to National Hands-On Training and local events bring us all together to shed a tear and share a smile. The organization is dedicated to help-ing families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.

http://coloradocops.org/license.html

http://coloradocops.org/license.html

38


I t was an honor this year to be a part of the St Baldrick’s fundrais-er to help fight children’s cancer. We were at the Douglas County

fairgrounds in Castle Rock Colorado where countless people showed up to donate their money and their hair for this great cause.

Thanks to Niles Ackerson of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and

Ashley Paulsen for helping to organize this amazing event. They did a wonderful job! -- From Ralston Photo

Watch a video of the event by Ralson Photo

http://www.ralstonphoto.com/event-photos/st-baldricks-2015-castle-rock-colorado-fight-against-childrens-cancer/

39


40


41


Do you Tweet?

Then, follow commanders

at the Douglas County

Sheriff’s Office on Twitter

to stay in the loop.

Sheriff Tony Spurlock @SheriffSpurlock Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth @HKluthDCSO Administrative Services Chief Deputy Tim Moore @TMooreDCSO Law Enforcement Chief Deputy Steve Johnson @SJohnsonDCSO

Patrol Captain Darren Weekly @DWeeklyDCSO Detention Captain Kevin Duffy @KDuffyDCSO Investigations Captain Jason Kennedy @JKennedyDCSO Support Services Captain Brad Heyden @BHeydenDCSO

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office @DCSheriff

42


My Internship Ex-perience

By Chelsea Hodges, Thunderridge High School Senior I'm a senior at Thunderridge High School in Highlands Ranch, and I recently got one of the most unique opportuni-ties in my entire life; to explore what it's like to work in the Douglas County Sher-iff's Office. This included observing dis-patch, booking, the crime lab, evidence, investigations, the lobby, the jail, going on a ride-along. I've always been drawn

to the field of law enforcement and criminal justice, I am very intrigued by the psychology of criminals, why they do what they do, and how all the de-partments within the sheriff's office come together.

The amount of knowledge I've gained from my observations in the different departments is something I'll never forget. The first department I started observing was the lobby, then the Detention Division, followed-up by bookings. The lobby is initially the place people go visit inmates. Going down to the jail for a tour was exciting and nerve-wrecking. I'd never been in a jail, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm thankful that everybody all throughout my experience interning was incredibly opening, welcome, and helpful. On the way down to the jail, there were so many secure doors to go through, it was interesting to see how locked and secure the jail is kept. Booking was the first thing I saw walking in, and I never really knew what happened in booking, I never thought about the process people have to go through when getting arrested. Booking is where the arrested fill out pa-perwork, information about their physical appearance has to be noted, they get a call to someone if they know they have an opportunity to be bailed out. When deputies bring in inmates from other jurisdictions or move an inmate to another jail, they load them in and out of transport vans in a secure sally port underground, just outside of the booking area. I was taken aback when I actually got to see inmates, and see their lifestyle. The jail is kept really nice and clean, and it was interesting to see how they categorized inmates,

whether they were mentally insane, low class, medium class, or high class crimes, and of course categorized by gender. Dispatch was a very interesting department to observe. All I had seen of dis-patch was on TV and movies, so I expected to walk into a room full of people taking 9-1-1 calls constantly, but that was not the case. There were four people, one taking calls from people needing help from law enforce-ment dispatch, another taking 9-1-1 emergency calls, one taking calls from fire agencies, and another taking calls about fires. It was shocking to see how much work these people put into making sure our safety is first. To work in dispatch, you have to type a lot, know a lot of codes, and interact with depu-ties on the roads. On the 911 call-taking, there are different calls that come in, and there's a separate number people can call for non-emergencies. There's a process each 911 call-taker has to take when answering emergency calls. They have to ask a series of questions, and always remain calm. I got to rotate around each person and see and hear what they do, and I was incredi-bly grateful that all those four people in dispatch were so friendly and open to answering my questions, even though they were busy at work. The next thing I did was ride-along with a deputy. That was exciting, because I've always wanted to do a ride-along so I was both nervous and excited. The officer who took me on as his ride-along was very welcoming and helpful. It was very interesting to be inside a police car, to see what goes on inside the vehicle and how the officers communicate with dispatchers, and see incom-ing calls. I got to go to a few calls with the deputy and see firsthand how they take care of different situations. I was so grateful for that opportunity, and I

definitely plan on doing another ride-along in the near future. Crime lab and evidence room were not what I expected from what I see on TV and mov-ies. The evidence room was basically a separate building not too far from the courthouse, and it's a whole building full of evidence, separated into different categories, whether it's paperwork, weapons, drugs or electronic items like comput-ers. The crime lab consisted of a room for where they store photographs of evidence from cases

like burglaries, auto thefts and murder. The crime lab technicians keep those photographs forever. There is also a fingerprint scanning station, a room where they use different goggles and lights to see fingerprints, liquids, and markings on evidence- and a lab room where testing can be done. I won-dered how someone can look at crime scenes, some more gruesome than others. The crime technician said everybody in this field needs an outlet, whether that's exercising, writing, singing, any hobby, seeing a therapist, just an outlet of some sort, because this job can take a toll on you if you let it consume your life. Overall, this internship taught me the general overview of the sheriff's office, and that it doesn't just take a dep-uty to do all the work, there are many people with different types of jobs with-in the sheriff office. I am still figuring out what line of work I want to do within this field, but I proba-bly wouldn't be a deputy/cop, what dep-uties do is something not everyone can do, it's a dangerous, but very rewarding job, I definitely see myself doing some-thing more along the lines of criminal psychology or profiling. I would suggest others into this line of work however, because law enforcement is a very rewarding field. I feel that if you go into this field with good intentions, you're putting out good efforts, and you're making the world a safer, better place. After my experience with this internship, I can confidently say that I have much more respect for law enforcement than be-fore, I'm more educated on all the jobs and different positions people have within this field, and I got to see firsthand how much dedication it takes to fulfill a job within law enforcement. If I had the chance to tell other students about cops and any infor-mation gained about them after this internship, it's that cops do deserve the utmost respect, I got to know a good amount of deputies through my intern-ship, and every single deputy was nothing but kind to me, some even had conversations with me regarding my future and gave me some tips on what to expect if I chose to be a deputy. Those tips were that you don't need to go to college and study to be a cop, so if you decide being a cop is for you, al-ways have a back-up plan, go to school and study something else, so that if being a cop doesn't work out in the long-term, you have something to fall back on. It's been an incredible experience, and this internship solidifies that law enforcement is the fieldwork for me.

“It doesn't just take a deputy to do all the work, there are many people with different types of jobs within

the sheriff office.” --Chelsea Hodges, Thunderridge High School

Fingerprints in the Crime Lab

Deputies show Chelsea the BearCAT

43


My Internship Ex-perience

By Chelsea Hodges, Thunderridge High School Senior I'm a senior at Thunderridge High School in Highlands Ranch, and I recently got one of the most unique opportuni-ties in my entire life; to explore what it's like to work in the Douglas County Sher-iff's Office. This included observing dis-patch, booking, the crime lab, evidence, investigations, the lobby, the jail, going on a ride-along. I've always been drawn

to the field of law enforcement and criminal justice, I am very intrigued by the psychology of criminals, why they do what they do, and how all the de-partments within the sheriff's office come together.

The amount of knowledge I've gained from my observations in the different departments is something I'll never forget. The first department I started observing was the lobby, then the Detention Division, followed-up by bookings. The lobby is initially the place people go visit inmates. Going down to the jail for a tour was exciting and nerve-wrecking. I'd never been in a jail, and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm thankful that everybody all throughout my experience interning was incredibly opening, welcome, and helpful. On the way down to the jail, there were so many secure doors to go through, it was interesting to see how locked and secure the jail is kept. Booking was the first thing I saw walking in, and I never really knew what happened in booking, I never thought about the process people have to go through when getting arrested. Booking is where the arrested fill out pa-perwork, information about their physical appearance has to be noted, they get a call to someone if they know they have an opportunity to be bailed out. When deputies bring in inmates from other jurisdictions or move an inmate to another jail, they load them in and out of transport vans in a secure sally port underground, just outside of the booking area. I was taken aback when I actually got to see inmates, and see their lifestyle. The jail is kept really nice and clean, and it was interesting to see how they categorized inmates,

whether they were mentally insane, low class, medium class, or high class crimes, and of course categorized by gender. Dispatch was a very interesting department to observe. All I had seen of dis-patch was on TV and movies, so I expected to walk into a room full of people taking 9-1-1 calls constantly, but that was not the case. There were four people, one taking calls from people needing help from law enforce-ment dispatch, another taking 9-1-1 emergency calls, one taking calls from fire agencies, and another taking calls about fires. It was shocking to see how much work these people put into making sure our safety is first. To work in dispatch, you have to type a lot, know a lot of codes, and interact with depu-ties on the roads. On the 911 call-taking, there are different calls that come in, and there's a separate number people can call for non-emergencies. There's a process each 911 call-taker has to take when answering emergency calls. They have to ask a series of questions, and always remain calm. I got to rotate around each person and see and hear what they do, and I was incredi-bly grateful that all those four people in dispatch were so friendly and open to answering my questions, even though they were busy at work. The next thing I did was ride-along with a deputy. That was exciting, because I've always wanted to do a ride-along so I was both nervous and excited. The officer who took me on as his ride-along was very welcoming and helpful. It was very interesting to be inside a police car, to see what goes on inside the vehicle and how the officers communicate with dispatchers, and see incom-ing calls. I got to go to a few calls with the deputy and see firsthand how they take care of different situations. I was so grateful for that opportunity, and I

definitely plan on doing another ride-along in the near future. Crime lab and evidence room were not what I expected from what I see on TV and mov-ies. The evidence room was basically a separate building not too far from the courthouse, and it's a whole building full of evidence, separated into different categories, whether it's paperwork, weapons, drugs or electronic items like comput-ers. The crime lab consisted of a room for where they store photographs of evidence from cases

like burglaries, auto thefts and murder. The crime lab technicians keep those photographs forever. There is also a fingerprint scanning station, a room where they use different goggles and lights to see fingerprints, liquids, and markings on evidence- and a lab room where testing can be done. I won-dered how someone can look at crime scenes, some more gruesome than others. The crime technician said everybody in this field needs an outlet, whether that's exercising, writing, singing, any hobby, seeing a therapist, just an outlet of some sort, because this job can take a toll on you if you let it consume your life. Overall, this internship taught me the general overview of the sheriff's office, and that it doesn't just take a dep-uty to do all the work, there are many people with different types of jobs with-in the sheriff office. I am still figuring out what line of work I want to do within this field, but I proba-bly wouldn't be a deputy/cop, what dep-uties do is something not everyone can do, it's a dangerous, but very rewarding job, I definitely see myself doing some-thing more along the lines of criminal psychology or profiling. I would suggest others into this line of work however, because law enforcement is a very rewarding field. I feel that if you go into this field with good intentions, you're putting out good efforts, and you're making the world a safer, better place. After my experience with this internship, I can confidently say that I have much more respect for law enforcement than be-fore, I'm more educated on all the jobs and different positions people have within this field, and I got to see firsthand how much dedication it takes to fulfill a job within law enforcement. If I had the chance to tell other students about cops and any infor-mation gained about them after this internship, it's that cops do deserve the utmost respect, I got to know a good amount of deputies through my intern-ship, and every single deputy was nothing but kind to me, some even had conversations with me regarding my future and gave me some tips on what to expect if I chose to be a deputy. Those tips were that you don't need to go to college and study to be a cop, so if you decide being a cop is for you, al-ways have a back-up plan, go to school and study something else, so that if being a cop doesn't work out in the long-term, you have something to fall back on. It's been an incredible experience, and this internship solidifies that law enforcement is the fieldwork for me.

Property and evidence storage

Deputies show Chelsea the BearCAT

44


D ouglas County Sheriff’s Office School Marshals working hard protecting

the Northridge Elementary children! This snake, held by Deputy John Glassburner, is a 7-year-old python name Sundrop. She’s 6 foot long. Sundrop belongs to a pet owner who traveled to Northridge Elementary and other schools in March to teach students about wildlife. Deputy Glassburner and the kids also got to hold a 45-pound tortoise, scor-pions and a tarantula.

45


46


Reducing stress on the job

How can you de-stress in a high-pressure environment where lives are on the line?

At the DCSO, our 9-1-1 dispatchers are walking and biking -- while they work! The fitness equipment is in their work area, allowing dispatchers to peddle and move while they answer emergency calls.

In 2014, dispatchers got two treadmills. In 2015, they added a stationary bike.

Sheriff Tony Spurlock promotes the fitness, since the dispatchers' jobs are sedentary and stressful. So far, the call takers love them!

47


After six weeks of very intense and grueling training in March, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has three new staff members. Their names are Atlas, Scooter and Tank.

Atlas will be the partner of Deputy Michael Morris. Scooter will be the partner of Deputy Brad Proulx, and Tank will partner with Deputy Marcella Kelly.

Deputy Marcella Kelly with K-9 Tank.

Deputy Brad Proulx with K-9 Scooter.

Deputy Michael Morris with K-9 Atlas.

48


In February, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies “arrested” Slacker and Steve, two radio talk show hosts from Alice 105.9. It was for a good cause. Slacker and Steve made an on-air wager that if 15 people called into the Alice 105.9 Cares for Kids radio-thon and made a big donation, they’d put their hands behind their backs. It worked. Deputy Brian Pereira handcuffed Steve so he could live up to his wager. The radio-thon raised money for the Colorado Children’s Hospital and Miracle Network. This year it raised more than $1.8 million for the Children’s Hospital. Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office (ASCO) and other metro area first responders answered calls and took donations during the two hour event. Deputy Pereira, Deputy Kevan Carlson, Deputy Randy Allen, Deputy Amanda Weiss, Deputy Jennifer Newton and Specialist Colleen Herringshaw participated from Douglas County. Sergeant Melissa Williams was also there from the ACSO.

DCSO deputies handcuff radio talk show hosts

to raise money

http://www.childrenscoloradofoundation.org/events/alice-105-9-cares-for-kids/

49


Connect with us

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

4000 Justice Way

Castle Rock, CO 80109

303.660.6500

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office website

www.DCSheriff.net

Twitter

DC Sheriff @DCSheriff

Facebook

www.facebook.com/DouglasCountySheriff

The magazine of the DCSO

The Briefing Room

http://issuu.com/DouglasSheriff

http://www.DCSheriff.net

http://www.facebook.com/DouglasCountySheriff

http://issuu.com/DouglasSheriff

may 2015 briefing room

Documents