Briefing Room July 2012

Sheriff David A. Weaver

July 2012

FIREWORKS BAN IN DOUGLAS COUNTY DOUGLAS COUNTY—This Fourth of July, please celebrate Independence Day without any sparklers, firecrackers or fireworks. On June 27th, the Douglas County Sheriff banned fireworks across the county because of the extreme drought, heat and multiple fires burning across Colorado. Sheriff David Weaver has ordered zero tolerance for law breakers.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT—August 7, 2012 Help reduce burglaries, auto theft and other property crime in your neighborhood by participating in National Night Out. LEARN HOW TO HELP ON PAGE 3 “NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.”

K-9 TEAMS, SWAT TEAM, MOBILE BOMB UNIT HIGHLANDS RANCH—It’s all things “police” at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Substation in Highlands Ranch this Fourth of July.

Check it out from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the substation’s OPEN HOUSE on July 4th.

9250 Zotos Drive, Highlands Ranch.

“Last Dollar Road” near Telluride, CO

by John Fielder

FIELDER FOCUSES ON PREVENTING SUICIDE DENVER—Famous Colorado nature photographer John Fielder, whose only son committed suicide, donates photograph to raise awareness about problem. SEE PAGE 4 FOR “FIELDER”

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office 4000 Justice Way Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-660-7505 www.dcsheriff.net Non emergency: 303-6607500 Patrol: 303-660-7546 Jail Info: 303-660-7550 Traffic Safety Hotline: 303-660-7539 Case Tip Line: 303-660-7579 Community Resources: 303-660-7544 Records: 303-660-7545

Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!

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Message from the Sheriff: Fires, blizzards, hazardous chemical spills. Are you and your family prepared for a disaster or emergency? As the saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you can plan to fail.”

With that in mind, I thought we’d talk about getting ready, Douglas County.

“GET READY, DOUGLAS COUNTY” STAY INFORMED – Sign up to get a Douglas County Emergency Alert before disaster strikes. You can register here: http://tinyurl.com/EmergencyAlert This emergency notification system enables Douglas County to provide residences and businesses with critical information quickly in an emergency, such as an evacuation of buildings or neighborhoods and advisories to stay inside.

MAKE A PLAN - Figure out where you’ll go for safety, how you’ll communicate with your family and friends and where you’ll reunite with them. Remember, phones may not be working, so make a plan in advance. The state has already put together a Family Emergency Plan for you, which you can download, fill out and email. Get the Family Emergency Plan by clicking here: http://www.ready.gov/emergency-planning-checklists Also, decide what important documents you’ll take with you. What medications do you need?

How much cash? Consider videotaping your belongings or take a home inventory for insurance claims and give it to family and friends or store it in a safe deposit box.

BUILD A DISASTER KIT – Pack essentials for an emergency. One gallon of water per person, non-perishable food (don’t forget the can opener!), a battery powered radio, flashlight, batteries and a first aid kit. You should have a minimum three day supply of food, water and medicine ready to go.

TAKE ACTION – Don’t wait for information to come to you. Visit the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office website (DCSheriff.net) Facebook page (facebook.com/ DouglasCountySheriff) or the county’s website (Douglas.co.us). Also, tune into news media.

PLACES TO FIND MORE INFORMATION: http://www.dcsheriff.net/emergencymanagement/ Colorado | Ready.gov http://www.readycolorado.com/ Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!

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HAVE A GREAT TIME AND FIGHT CRIME On August 7th, hold a block party with special appearances by Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies, other local law enforcement and emergency services personnel. It’s a chance for neighbors to get to know neighbors and send the message to criminals that you’re fighting back. Turn on the porch lights, keep an eye out for strangers in the neighborhood.

At the block parties, residents can interact with law enforcement and firefighters in a fun environment. You can get visits from K-9’s and their handlers, motorcycles, the Race-A-Cop car, patrol car, jail bus, crime scene van, SWAT team member, park ranger, McGruff the Crime Dog, CSV (Community Safety Volunteer), Mounted Patrol, fire fighters and their engines and others.

National Night out is a neighborhood watch program hosted by Douglas County.

The organizer of the block party can sign up with Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Community Resources unit 303.660.7544 or by clicking here: http://tinyurl/73egutr Neighborhoods do not have to belong to a neighborhood watch group to participate.

Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!

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FIELDER DONATES PHOTO, GALLERY TO FIGHT SUICIDE DENVER—The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) raised $6,000 for suicide prevention with help from beloved nature Colorado photographer John Fielder, in honor of his late son.

Fielder’s only son, J.T., killed himself on a solo backpacking trip in Colorado in 2008. To remember J.T’s life, Fielder donated one of his favorites photographs, “Last Dollar Road,” near Telluride.

Metro Crisis Services was the winning bidder for the photograph. Metro Crisis offers emergency mental health and substance abuse intervention services for the seven Denver metro area counties.

The AFSP’s “Party for prevention’ was held at John Fielder’s Colorado Gallery in Denver on June 8th. The AFSP is a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide.

The national AFSP also celebrated opening its 54th chapter in Colorado. Board of director co-chairs Sheri Cole and Phyllis Harvey signed the new charter and thanked the sponsors and volunteers who helped with the party for prevention.

“Events like this are an important time for us to spread the word and gather support,” Harvey said. “We don't want others to go through the trauma of losing a loved one from suicide.”

• • • •

Co –chairs Harvey and Cole

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-34 year olds in Colorado.

Males are 70% more likely to take their lives than females.

In 2005, traffic accidents in Colorado killed 662 people, versus 795 suicides.

Nationally, Colorado leads the nation in suicide, ranks 33rd in the nation for state funding of mental health and last in funding for substance abuse.

For more information, please visit www.afsp.org and http://www.dcsheriff.net/yess/ Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!

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DOUGCO READY TO EVACUATE IN FIRE DOUGLAS COUNTY—As firefighters battled the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history, Douglas County put some residents on alert that they might be forced to evacuate if the Waldo Canyon fire raged out of El Paso into Douglas County.

The Sheriff’s Office launched the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on June 27th to help manage the fire and protect residents.

Almost immediately, residents in southwestern Douglas County were put on notice that they should get ready in case they had to leave their homes and businesses.

Cherie Abbot Emergency Management Specialist

Incident Manager Tim Johnson, Director of Emergency Management, briefed officials about logistics, available equipment and shelters.

Disaster officials from fire departments to public works to civil air patrol packed into the EOC as fires scorched nearly 18,000 acres in Colorado Springs.

But by June 29th, firefighters had contained the fire enough that the EOC could call the preevacuation notice.

In the end, the Waldo Canyon fire destroyed 347 homes and left two homeowners dead earning the title of Colorado’s worst disaster.

of

Incident Commander Tim Johnson & Undersheriff Tony Spurlock

Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!

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Douglas County Sheriff’s Office graduates 7th Community Safety Volunteer Academy DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – Residents who care deeply about keeping their families and neighbors safe and secure endured more than 150 hours of law enforcement classes and on-the-job training to graduate from the 2012 Community Safety Volunteer Academy in Douglas County. It was the county’s seventh graduating class.

The 16 graduates became Community Safety Volunteers (CSV) and Volunteers-in-Policing (VIP) on June 19th for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), Castle Rock Police Department, Lone Tree Police, Kiowa Police Department and Elbert County Sheriff’s Office. The Academy is sponsored and taught by the DCSO. Sheriff David Weaver swore in six people from Douglas County who promised to help protect their communities. Volunteer coordinators Stephanie Trotter and Walt Wohlgemuth congratulated their students. Sgt. Ron Hanavan, the officer in charge of the program, talked about the positive impact the volunteers make in the county.

Lone Tree Police Chief Stephen Hassler swore in the Lone Tree police volunteers, while Commander John Anderson swore in Castle Rock Police Department’s Community Safety Volunteers.

While deputies and officers handle serious crimes such as homicides, burglaries and robberies, the citizen volunteers handle lesser offenses. They may respond to cold thefts where there are no suspects or evidence, minor motor vehicle accidents, lost and found property reports and vehicle impounds. The residents also house checks for people away from home, conduct VIN verifications and act as the eyes and ears for official law enforcement officers.

Their help means our highly trained deputies and officers can focus their efforts on preventing and solving more serious crimes.

For more information ,visit dcsheriff.net or crgov.com or cityoflonetree.com or e-mail to csv@dcsheriff.net.

Vision: To BE THE LEADER in public safety!