Message from the Executive Director
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As 2019 draws to a close, I am so appreciative of all we have achieved in Public Safety this year. Our departments have begun the process of implementing the Denver Opportunity Index (DOI), a philosophical shift in the way we conduct our operations to better address the needs of the Denver residents we serve.
While change of this magnitude does not happen quickly, we have already seen some positive outcomes and each of our departments have goals and objectives for 2020 to ensure we are doing all we can to help residents succeed.
DOI accomplishments to date include the hundreds of meals handed out by the Denver Police Citywide Impact Team to residents in need; processing fees waived by the Denver Sheriff Department and electronic monitoring fees waived by Community Corrections to ease the financial burden of those already struggling to transition back into society; modification of the city's youth curfew enforcement by Denver Police and Public Safety Youth Programs to ensure our young people are safe; and the relocation of Denver's Combined Communications Center to a larger, state-of-the-art facility to better meet the city's growing need for emergency services. In addition, GRID continues to work with community organizations to reduce gang activity across the city and the Denver Fire Department received support from Denver voters to expand their staffing to include Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) to grow their successful med-unit model, caring for residents with low level medical needs.
Public Safety's data team continues to refine the DOI model and developed a web-based, searchable database in partnership with Mile High United Way, allowing staff and citizens to locate service providers in real time using their mobile phones.
In early 2020, we will be sharing a more detailed review of our accomplishments under DOI and our plans for the future.
I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year and pray that 2020 is a blessed one for you and your families.
Troy
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Citizens Appreciate Police Recognize Five Denver Police Officers for Acts of Kindness
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On October 9, five Denver Police officers were recognized by the non-profit organization Citizens Appreciate Police (CAP). Formed in 1978 by Mayor Bill McNichols and District Attorney Dale Tooley, CAP honors officers who serve the public by going above and beyond the regular call of duty. Since its inception, CAP has recognized more than 400 officers.
Officers recognized in October’s ceremony include:
- Sergeant Jennifer Guigli and Officer Steven Gameroz responded to a disturbance at a residence on N. Alcott Street on Thanksgiving Day where they met a young mother and her six-year-old child. The mother requested assistance to leave the home and go to a shelter with her child. Sergeant Guigli and Officer Gameroz used their own money and paid for the pair to stay at hotel that night instead of the shelter.
- Officer Alicia Harris, while working on the Homeless Outreach Team, met a homeless man who resisted going to a shelter or accepting the help of a clinician. Officer Harris visited with the man daily, provided him money for meals, took him to a health clinic and with her partner, Officer Richard Fischer, repaired his bicycle. Over time, Officer Harris learned the man had family in Washington and he wanted to go home to them. She was able to track down the man’s sister via social media and connected them by letting him use her phone. She worked with the sister and the Mental Health Center of Denver to secure the man a bus ticket and was able to help ensure a safe trip home to his family.
- Officer Vina Maciel and Officer Nate Magee, Citywide IMPACT Team Officers, were working near the Denver Rescue Mission when they encountered a woman who was having trouble walking. She explained she had been released from the hospital after receiving all the care they could offer. She went on to explain she was from Spain and did not have any family in Denver or a place to stay. The officers tried to find her space in a local women’s shelter but could not. With options limited, they pooled their resources and bought the woman a two-night stay at a hotel, dinner and some money to help her with groceries and bus fare. They also followed up with the woman to help her arrange for long-term care and shelter.
Kudos to these officers who have gone above and beyond for Denver residents!
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Pretrial Services Participates in Denver Community Based Enhanced Restoration (CBER) Pilot Program
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Our Pretrial Service Team, part of Community Corrections, will partner with the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) to conduct a pilot program called CBER on behalf of the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health. The program's goal is to provide an option for the court to divert defendants awaiting psychiatric hospital placement to community supervision and restoration. If the pilot is successful in Denver, the Office of Behavioral Health would like to implement similar programs in other Colorado jurisdictions.
The pilot program will last for six months and has capacity for 30 court referrals. Pretrial Services and MHCD will work together to provide intensive case management services to defendants referred to the program, including assistance with activities of daily living, basic life management skills including housing, benefits acquisition and transportation, counseling/therapy and court advocacy. Pretrial Services will provide community supervision and case management, communicating with the court while the defendants are in the program. CBER is staffed by three MHCD staff and Senior Pretrial Officer, Elsa Villalobos. The team will be located at 303 W. Colfax.
Congratulations to Aubree Cote and the rest of the Pretrial Services team for working to provide alternate treatment options for this vulnerable population.
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Public Safety Wellness Week
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December marked Public Safety's First Wellness Week. Director Riggs kicked it off with a message to staff emphasizing the importance of wellness in our line of work, which can be incredibility rewarding and incredibly stressful at the same time. The department’s wellness coordinators put together “random acts of wellness” where yoga teachers, physical therapists and even a few therapy dogs made surprise visits to roll calls and meetings. DSD offered chair massages and DPD offered acupuncture. Emails were distributed daily with tips and resources on different wellness topics. In case you missed the emails, links are below.
Remember, you are the most important resource we have in Public Safety and taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care the residents we serve.
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Denver Police Celebrate 160 Years
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On December 19, Denver Police celebrated 160 years of service to the Denver community.
A ceremony marked the occasion and a video presentation highlighted DPD's service to Denver over the years. Watch the video
here
.
Chief Paul Pazen unveiled a commemorative 160
th
anniversary badge and presented honorary badges to Mayor Hancock and Director Riggs, as well as the retired Denver Police Chiefs in attendance. Councilman Kevin Flynn presented a generous check to the Denver Police Museum on behalf of City Council.
Congratulations to the Denver Police Department and a heartfelt thank you for all you do!
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Youth Gun Violence Action Group
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In December, Mayor Hancock convened a task force, asking city agencies and partners to work together in a coordinated effort to reduce youth gun violence in our community. According to a study done by Denver Public Health, nearly 700 young people are harmed by gun violence every year.
Lead by City Attorney Kristin Bronson, leaders from Public Safety, Denver Police, DDPHE, Denver Health and Denver Public Schools participated in learning and brainstorming sessions to coordinate resources and information to help parents, schools and community members.
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Public Safety Cadet Program
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In late December, we celebrated the graduation of Cadet Leader Kyle Lally, Cadet Andrew Lutz, Cadet Joseph Simpson and Cadet Dane VanderMiller. We wish them all the best as they begin the next chapter of their careers!
Just a reminder, the Cadet Program is accepting applications now through December 31. If you know a young person with an interest in Public Safety, encourage them to consider this fantastic program. Learn more
here.
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Public Safety Partners with Mile High United Way to Launch Community Resource Map
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On December 17, Mayor Hancock and Director Riggs announced Public Safety’s partnership with Mile High United Way launching a web-based community resource map that allows users to easily search for location-based resources. Nicknamed CARMA (Community Asset and Resource Mapping Application), the map uses a person’s location to identify free and discounted community services available to Denver residents. The map is linked to Mile High United Way’s 2-1-1 database and is updated regularly to ensure the information is current.
DPD’s Citywide Impact Team has been piloting CARMA since August and saw firsthand how useful the tool was when one of their contact officers was flagged down by a distraught gentleman who wanted to talk with a mental health professional. The officer accessed CARMA on his phone and was able to find a counseling service accepting new clients less than 100 yards away from where they were. The officer helped the man secure a same-day appointment.
DPD’s Homeless Outreach Team and Denver Human Services outreach teams plan to start using the program in the new year.
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Graduations and Promotions
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Congratulations to all public safety staff who earned promotions during the last quarter of 2019 and welcome to all the new graduates who joined the team!
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Upcoming Test of the City's Employee Notification System
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The City is launching a new employee notification system which is a more responsive mass alert system for emergency messages. Text messages, email alerts and phone calls are all part of the channels that can be activated during emergencies to keep employees information. On January 8, you will receive a test phone call, email and/or text message. The message will include a response option and you are encouraged to respond. The message will come from an unfamiliar phone number.
Is your contact information up-to-date in Workday?
Follow this
job aid
to update your information. Learn more about the employee notification system
here
.
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Our Safety Newsletter is distributed bi-monthly. If you have something you’d like to include in a future issue, please send an email to
PublicSafety@denvergov.org
.
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