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A Shared Passion; A Vision That Unites Us
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Dear CDPS employees,
We started this month with Colorado Day on Aug. 1, as our state celebrated its 140th anniversary. It doesn’t matter whether you were born in Colorado or have only lived here a few years, or whether you have worked for the State of Colorado for a lifetime or just a few short months: We all take part in a shared pride in our state and in our duty serving the people of Colorado.
Colorado became a state on Aug. 1, 1876. Although the Department of Public Safety was created in 1984, we are unique in our claim to containing both one of the longest-standing state entities (more than 80 years of history for the State Patrol) and some of the newest (fewer than 4 years for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control).
Similarly, it doesn’t matter whether your division has been around for decades or just a few years: We all take part in a shared vision and we all share pride in our contributions to keeping people safe. Those contributions range as far and wide as a Trooper spending face-time with community members to break down biases, to a CBI forensic scientist concentrating alone in a lab to process evidence; from a Logistics Services mechanic repairing a fire truck surrounded by the smoke of a nearby wildfire, to a DCJ Administrator diligently tracking a grant so that victims can be taken care of through the criminal justice process. Whether you’re an HR, OIT, or Finance employee whose behind-the-scenes efforts make it possible for our field staff to do their jobs, or you’re a DFPC firefighter fighting fires in Colorado and beyond, you are an integral part of CDPS and of the State of Colorado.
I hope you’ll take a moment to read the articles in this newsletter so that you can experience the shared pride, vision and values that unite the Colorado Department of Public Safety as we serve our great state.
Stan Hilkey, Executive Director
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Quiz!
Q: What percentage of CBI Forensic Scientists are women?
A. 65% B. 52% C. 49% D. 33%
Submit your answer by Sept. 6. If your answer is correct, you will be entered in a drawing to win a small prize.
July answer and winner: The DFPC Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA) uses infrared technology to detect fires that might not otherwise be visible to the naked eye. Winner: Brandon Keever, CSP Comms (Pueblo).
Name this Newsletter!
Last month, we asked you to submit names for this newsletter. We received a number of excellent ideas, and now we need your help picking a name! Click this link to vote on your favorite name for this newsletter.
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Meet the Workers Who Get Their Hands Dirty So We Can Keep the Public Safe
CDPS Logistics Services Director Kevin Rants often refers to his team as the “Blue collar branch” of CDPS.
“At the end of the day, they have dirty hands and dirty uniforms,” Rants said of his 28 team members, who provide support and resources that make it possible for CDPS divisions to carry out their missions.
On Sept. 29, CDPS staff are invited to meet this team in person and enjoy a hands-on experience of Logistics Services, including exploring vehicles, touring the shop and warehouse, and even trying on a uniform!
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DCJ Expert Travels to Suriname to Assist with Juvenile Justice Reform
Did you know that Colorado has some of the most highly regarded experts in criminal justice reform?
In July, DCJ's Meg Williams traveled to the South American country of Suriname to help them craft a plan to reform their juvenile justice system.
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"What happened next was nothing short of phenomenal."
In July, local agencies responding to the Plum Canyon Fire in Las Animas county turned to DFPC for help.
"What happened next was nothing short of phenomenal. Having been a Commissioner for five plus years I have never seen a response so quick on a fire," wrote County Commissioner Mack Louden.
Read the Story...
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State Patrol Tackles Tough Topic of
Unconscious Bias
Well before tensions escalated in the wake of incidents in Louisiana and Ohio, leaders in the Colorado State Patrol were exploring opportunities to train its members to minimize implicit bias.
CSP has implemented Fair and Impartial Policing courses for both uniformed and civilian members of the Patrol, with a goal of having 100% of their 1,000+ members trained by mid-2017.
“By training all members of the agency, we have an opportunity to address tough topics facing the law enforcement profession and the communities we serve," Chief Hernandez said.
Read More About this Program
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DCJ Closes Out 4-Year-Long Theater Shooting Victim Assistance Project
More than four years after an unthinkable tragedy struck in Aurora, members of the Office for Victims Programs within the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) are wrapping up the final details of a massive, multi-agency project that aimed to provide a breadth of services to help the victims of the Aurora Theater shooting.
Their work applying for and managing a grant on behalf of 8 Colorado agencies helped to provide victims with a wide variety of services, from funding to defray the cost of attending criminal proceedings to security services, counseling and therapy ...
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Green Team Launches to Lead
CDPS Sustainability Efforts
The daily activities of state government have a significant impact on the quality of Colorado's public health, environment and economy. On Aug. 11,
CDPS convened its First Green Team Meeting to lead department-wide efforts to reduce our collective environmental impact.
The Green Team consists of representatives from all CDPS divisions who are coming together to foster a culture of sustainability and engage CDPS employees in order to achieve the goals outlined in the Greening State Government Executive Order.
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Executive Assistants 'Hit the Mark' on Collaboration
CDPS Executive Assistants have been meeting
as a cross-divisional, collaborative team since April 2015.
On July 28, the Executive Director’s Office sponsored a retreat for the group, with help from the Colorado State Patrol. During the retreat, the executive assistants tackled key projects including an electronic Administrative Resource Guide, a departmental calendar of events, and a conflict resolution process. They also got to complete a 90-minute gun safety class that concluded with hands-on practice at the State Patrol shooting range.
Read more
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Susan Redmond Fills New Chief Compliance Officer Role
Susan Redmond stepped into the newly created role of CDPS Chief Compliance Officer on Aug. 1, 2016. As CCO, Susan will ensure that CDPS has effective and efficient policies and procedures in place, that they are well-understood and complied with by all employees, and that the CDPS is complying with all regulatory requirements.
Meet Susan Redmond
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Electra Theodorides-Bustle appointed DHSEM Chief of Staff
Electra Theodorides-Bustle was appointed the Chief of Staff for the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management on August 15, 2016.
Electra Theodorides-Bustle comes to DHSEM with an extensive and diverse career that has included over 15 years of state and local executive, legal, and policy making positions in public safety. Read more about Electra...
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Do you have ideas for good-news stories, events, "People on the Move", or other content to share with all CDPS employees? Submit your story ideas, details and photos by the 10th of the month to your Division PIO or to Patricia.Billinger@state.co.us.
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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @COPUBLICSAFETY
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