Volume 6 | December 2018
Message from the Executive Director
December is upon us and I hope this edition finds you enjoying the warmth of the season with your loved ones and colleagues. As I’ve said before, I am truly blessed to work with such a talented group of safety professionals.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, my wife Kara and I were privileged to visit with crews from Denver Fire Station 29, Police District 5 and the DDC. We look forward to visiting with more of our teams as the year winds to a close.

As you know, we partnered with Mayor Hancock to announce the launch of the Denver Opportunity Index in October, a part of the Mayor’s equity platform and a philosophical shift in public safety service delivery focused on proactively enhancing quality of life opportunities in Denver through strategic collaboration and data analysis. Since that time, we have hosted a number of community meetings and have received valuable feedback from residents about the challenges they’re facing. We’ve also meet with non-profit organizations who want to partner with us on these efforts. One of the groups we’re working with is Volunteers of America. They plan to connect recently released inmates with housing and employment opportunities and have already helped five people since October. CBS4’s Shaun Boyd sat down with Shannon Clifford, one of VOA’s clients, to hear more about his experience. View the story here .

In addition to developing partnerships with non-profits, we are also looking inward to identify changes we can implement to make a difference in the Denver community. Two things I’m excited to announce this month include waiving pretrial fees for electronic monitoring and launching a new volunteer policy for Department of Public Safety employees.

Working with Greg Mauro and his team in Community Corrections, we realized electronic monitoring fees, which add up to approximately $1,000 per client were being imposed whether or not the client was convicted of a crime. This was creating a significant burden to many in Denver who were already struggling financially. Waiving these fees is a change we have decided to implement to help these clients get back on their feet.

Jennifer Cockrum and the Safety Human Resources team developed a policy for 2019 which will allow most of our staff to utilize eight hours of paid work time once a year to volunteer in the community. We recognize our staff members are passionate about the work they do and we want to create opportunities for you to interact with the community outside of your day to day responsibilities. Stay tuned for more details early next year.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season. May God bless and keep you safe.

Troy
Reminder: Make Your DECC Pledge Today!
For 30 years, we as City of Denver employees have had an easy, efficient and empowering way to donate to charity: through our workplace giving program, the Denver Employees Charitable Campaign.
In 2018, the DECC is proud to celebrate three decades of charitable impact and $13.2 million raised for the vibrant nonprofit community in our area and beyond. Individual donors benefit too, because giving feels good. With your donation, you help create the world you want to see.
The DECC is all about choice: who to give to (any 501c3 charity you wish), how to give (convenient payroll contribution, credit/debit card, check, e-check or cash) and how much to give (there’s no minimum donation). Signing up online takes just a few minutes.
You still have time to participate! First, visit the DECC website at www.denvergov.org/decc to learn more about the campaign. Then, donate online at www.ipledgeonline.org/_decc . Contact the DECC at decc@cshares.org if you have any questions. And note, contract employees can participate too! They just need to visit www.ipledgeonline.org/_contractedteamdecc to give.
Your charity of choice benefits when you give to them through the DECC. Here’s why:
  • A 12-month payroll contribution provides a steady, reliable stream of income for the nonprofit.
  • Workplace giving is a less expensive (and therefore more impactful) way to fundraise than activities such as special events, grant writing and direct mail.
  • Nonprofits can keep their administrative costs lower if they’re processing a single, large payment from the DECC versus multiple, smaller payments from individual donors.
  • The DECC enables all of us to donate directly out of our paycheck, in whatever amount we like. This automatic, incremental giving allows most people to give more overall.
 
The bottom line is, your contribution through the DECC has a greater impact when it’s combined with the generosity of your coworkers.
What matters to you? Use the DECC to find your voice, give and change the world!
Out and About with Public Safety Staff This Holiday Season 
An annual Denver tradition, the Daddy Bruce Thanksgiving basket giveaway made Thanksgiving brighter for approximately 5,000 families. Members of the Public Safety team donated their time and muscle to assist in filling baskets and distributing them to members of the community. 

Denver Dream Center hosted their annual Santa’s Elves event at Coors Field on December 8 which connected volunteers with families in need. Almost 3,000 children received gifts for the holidays and members of Public Safety assisted with the distribution of gifts. 

The 36th Annual Hiawatha Senior Luncheon was on December 14 and Public Safety staff were on hand to assist City Council members by providing table service to over 600 attendees. 
Graduations, Promotions and Celebrations - Oh My!
November and December were busy months for all types of celebrations in Public Safety. 

Both Denver Police and Denver Fire welcomed new graduates into their ranks. The Denver Police Class 2018-1 completed their academy training on November 2, and 48 new officers have embarked on field training.  
The Denver Fire class of 2018-2 completed their academy training on November 29 and 26 graduates have begun their careers as probationary firefighters.
Two Public Safety Cadets graduated on December 17. Cadet Matthew Meyer and Senior Cadet Leader Jairo Tiscareno successfully completed the program after graduating from Metropolitan State University. Both cadets will be applying to the Denver Fire Academy.  
Denver Fire also celebrated 22 promotions on November 9. The promotees are a group of very talented individuals who were recognized for their commitment and service to the department. Also recognized was former Chief Richard Gonzales, the first Latino ever promoted to that rank at Denver Fire, who lost his battle with cancer in August. 
Citizens Appreciate Police honors officers with the  Denver Police Department  throughout the year who go above and beyond for community members. Earlier this month, they received certificates of recognition from Mayor  Michael B. Hancock
Congratulations to all. We’re proud to work with you!
PERF Highlights Denver Sheriff Department 
Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) profiled the reform efforts undertaken by the Sheriff Department in their ongoing series - Spotlight on Sheriffs. Read the report here
Denver Police and the Daniels Fund Honor Luke Kroener
The Daniels Fund and Denver Police Department posthumously recognized Luke Kroener, a citizen and security guard who courageously intervened immediately following two separate shooting incidents while waiting for DPD officers to arrive. Luke was tragically shot and killed after confronting a possible suspect in the second incident.
 
On December 13, the Daniels Fund awarded Luke with the Bill Daniels Neighborhood Hero Award and also presented his family with a $1,000 check as an expression of gratitude for his selfless actions. The check will go towards a college fund for Luke’s 3-year-old daughter, Emma. The Bill Daniels Neighborhood Hero Award was established by the Daniels Fund to recognize members of our community who go “above and beyond the call of duty” and make heroic efforts to help others.
Denver 9-1-1 Staff Go Above and Beyond
Police Dispatcher Christina Perry organized a fundraiser to assist Supervisor Jodi Marzano whose daughter, Gianna, was injured in a motorcycle accident in Las Vegas. Christina organized a two-day fundraiser to assist with travel expenses and medical bills from the accident.

Police Dispatcher Jessica Seib and Denver Police Officer Gordon Seib, along with a lot of volunteers from 9-1-1 organized a fundraiser on behalf of Officer Jared Purdy, who lost his young daughter in a tragic accident in November. The funds raised will help cover medical expenses and funeral costs.

As 9-1-1 Director Athena Butler said, “These efforts represent the very best of Public Safety.”

We agree. Thank you to the organizers for their hard work and for everyone who contributed.
Denver Sheriff Department Hosts Breakfast with Santa 
On December 8, the Honor Guard members turned an area at Roslyn Training Center into a holiday wonderland with decorations, a beautifully trimmed Christmas tree and the guest of honor, Santa Claus. Staff members and their families joined Santa Claus for breakfast, children told Santa their wish list and professional photos were taken of each child. It was a great opportunity for employees and their families to enjoy the holiday season!
Wellness Corner: Holiday Stress
While the winter holidays are a source of joy and festivities for some, others may find this time of year challenging.

Here are some tips from Guidance Resources for coping with stress and getting more cheer out of the season.

  • Don’t be perfect; be you. Set realistic expectations for yourself. Keep your plans and activities simple.
  • Pace yourself. The sheer volume of holidays in November and December can keep you busy. Get organized and break your preparations into small steps.
  • Budget wisely. It is easy to buy on credit and ignore bills until after the holidays. Set your limit ahead of time.
  • Get into the spirit. Deck the halls. Build a snowman. Too often adults miss out on the simple pleasures of celebrating the holidays.
  • Take time out for yourself. Unwind and pamper yourself with a break from the action. Try relaxation techniques, meditation and deep-breathing exercises.
  • Embrace family. Look forward to reuniting with family and loved ones this holiday. Cherish the time you have and make an effort to be relaxed, positive and cheerful.
  • Celebrate safely. Give your body a gift this year by treating it with respect. Try not to overindulge in sweets and goodies. Know your limits when it comes to alcohol.
  • Make New Year’s resolutions. Setting goals challenges us to aim for higher fulfillment and self-improvement.

For more tips on keeping the holidays healthy and happy at work and at home, consult the Holiday Resource Guide on Guidance Resources. All Denver employees can create a free account. Connect with a Wellness Program Coordinator or visit denvergov.org/wellness to learn more.
Our Safety Newsletter will be distributed bi-monthly. If you have something you’d like to include in a future issue, please send an email to PublicSafety@denvergov.org .  

Department of Public Safety | City and County of Denver | O: 720.913.7458 | F: 720.913.7028 | PublicSafety@denvergov.org | www.denvergov.org/safety