Emergency Service Dispatchers serve as the first line of communication for all law enforcement, fire, and medical calls for service for our community. Our center serves over 180,000 residents in unincorporated El Paso County, Monument, Palmer Lake, Calhan, and Green Mountain Falls. We dispatch for El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Calhan, Green Mountain Falls, Monument, Palmer Lake and the Pikes Peak Community College Police Department, and 15 fire departments. A 6-month training program encompasses learning how to handle emergent (911) and non-emergent telephone calls, emergency medical, fire, and police protocols. Our center receives up to 200,000 telephone calls each year that are classified into incident types. Calls are then dispatched to law, fire, and medical personnel. Our primary concern is the safety and security of our responders and citizenry. We respond to all our customers with patience, kindness, compassion, firmness, and pride in our day-to-day performance. Our personnel are passionate about their job and their community. The center is staffed with 34 trained professionals who are subject to rotation, early call-in and staying late, working through high-pressure events, and dealing with life and death calls. We dispatch for El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, Calhan, Green Mountain Falls, Monument, Palmer Lake and the Pikes Peak Community College Police Department and 15 fire departments. A highly specialized team that was developed to deploy during critical incidents such as barricaded persons and wildland fires is known as the Tactical Dispatch Unit. In 1995, the Communications Center created the first 911 education and 911 Hero program for the county. Using grants and other funding, the center has obtained funding for four robots and three remote controlled cars, and a puppet stage. Using these props, the center provides 911 education to elementary schools and participates in community events. The center provided 911 education to at-risk adults and the elderly. Our role in the community is critical to the welfare and safety of the community in answering the call for help.

Aggressive/distracted driving continues to be a problem on county roadways. With the greater use of wireless devices, this issue will continue to grow. What resources are available to address or deter the aggressive or distracted driver? Does the aggressive/distracted driver pose the same, if not greater, risk for accident or injury as a driver impaired by alcohol or drugs? What demographic of drivers is more likely to operate a vehicle while distracted? These questions and many, many more can be answered for your organization.

Mental Health and Substance Abuse are hot topics in local legislation and media. These behavioral health issues affect every aspect of law enforcement, from encounters on the street, to court to incarceration. Jails have become the largest mental health institutions across the country. Individuals with severe behavioral health issues compounded by the lack of timely and available service providers in our community, lead law enforcement officers to not only be first responders to crimes and other related emergencies, but also to individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. As a response to this, Co-Responder Teams consisting of a behavioral health clinicians and trained law enforcement officers have been deployed throughout the nation in an attempt to better serve these individuals by providing immediate crisis intervention and linkage to behavioral health services. These practices aim to divert individuals who may be acting out or otherwise engaging in low level criminal behavior as a result of their behavioral health issues from jails and into services that can help to stabilize them.  Identifying this as a need in our state, the State of Colorado, Office of Behavioral Health has offered grant funding to several Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments in the State to develop Co-Responder programs. Invite a representative from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office BHCON Unit to come speak to your group to find out what EPSO has done to address behavioral health crisis calls and discuss the impact the Co-Responder team has on El Paso County residents.

One of the most prevalent issues deputies handle when it comes to juveniles and their parents is bullying complaints. Bullying is defined as any written or verbal expression, physical act or gesture, or pattern thereof that is intended to cause distress upon one or more peers. There is a distinct difference between bullying and a conflict, and determining the pattern proves difficult at times. Colorado does not currently have a bullying statute, so one of the largest issues deputies face is determining if a violation of law, such as harassment or disorderly conduct, has occurred. The suspect or “bully” could face criminal charges.

Today’s teens are searching for something to do or something to get involved with. There is a program out there that will take care of both of these issues while allowing the teens an opportunity to have a lot of fun in the process of learning about a career in law enforcement. Who are the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Cadets and what do they do? What role do the Cadets play within the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office? What are the requirements to become a Cadet? What type of training do the Cadets receive?

The Citizens Advisory Council members are graduates of the Citizens Academy. Council members provide feedback on programs and issues in the Sheriff’s Office, such as policy and procedure reviews and budget proposals. Members may participate in the oral boards for hiring deputies. They volunteer in various activities associated with the Office.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy is a ten-week Academy created for the residents of our community to gain a better understanding of our Office and law enforcement. The Academy offers citizens a broad overview and unique insight into the various functions of the Sheriff's Office.  Participants will learn about topics such as use of force, illegal marijuana, targeted traffic enforcement, emergency services (which includes our Wildland Fire and Search & Rescue teams), SWAT (Tactical Support Unit), and civil process. Students will understand the intricacies of a criminal investigation as detectives take them through the investigative process. A tour of the El Paso County Courthouse and a tour of the El Paso County Jail will be conducted to demonstrate the challenges facing our staff.

As a landlord, what do you need to evict a tenant? How can I collect on an unpaid judgment? How can I request personal service of an official court document? What other services can the Sheriff’s Office Civil Unit provide for me? Find the answers to these and may other commonly asked questions when you invite a representative from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Civil Unit to come speak to your group.

Direct Supervision is really a state of mind rather than the physical jail; it is how you approach and manage inmates. The overall goal is the active and continuous supervision of inmates. Direct supervision combines two key elements–physical jail design and an inmate management strategy–to significantly reduce the problem inmate behavior commonly seen in jails. Direct supervision focuses on actively managing inmate behavior to produce a jail that is safe and secure for inmates, staff, and visitors.

The CHP Program began in 1995. Any El Paso County resident 21 years of age or older is eligible to apply for a concealed weapons permit. This course will provide information on the application process and gun laws as they pertain to the CHP process.

Why do deputies hang out in the courthouse? Who is responsible for moving inmates from other locations in the state to court appearances in El Paso County? The mission of the Court and Transport Section is to ensure the public’s safety by providing security in 44 courtrooms; moving inmates to and from court in a safe, secure, and timely manner; and arresting and processing remands in accordance with prescribed directives and applicable laws. Further, these deputies provide safe and secure vehicular transportation for inmates to and from court, between local detention facilities, to the State Hospital, the Department of Corrections facilities, and other law enforcement jurisdictions throughout the state as directed by the courts.

Can you really predict when a crime will be committed? Are you able to identify or locate a person based on a witness’s description or a surveillance photo? Questions such as these will be explained by the Sheriff’s Office Crime Analysis Unit which, through the use of multiple software programs, resources, and the databases, is able to assist deputies and detectives in identifying individuals, crime patterns, hot zones, and possible threats to the community and law enforcement safety. The analyst also aids in case presentation with timelines and detailed link-analysis diagrams to help jurors who have fallen victim to the “CSI Effect”, understand complex cases such COCCA (Colorado Organized Crime Control Act) cases.

On occasion, we hear about rashes of crime in some neighborhoods. Sometimes it is graffiti. Other times it may be car break-ins. Frequently, there are no known suspects. What happens to those reports? Does anyone ever conduct follow-up? The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division has a group of very dedicated and motivated deputies known as the Crime Reduction Unit. These deputies take on many of these difficult cases and many other special projects that the regular deputies often do not have time to work on in order to make our communities a safer place to live.

With the proliferation of “CSI” type television shows, it is becoming more and more important for law enforcement to use creative ways of presenting complex murder scenes. Through the interaction of audio, video, text, graphics, and animation prosecutors throughout the country are taking advantage of this approach to allow the jury to fully see criminal cases. From the initial 911 call through the follow-up investigation, jurors are able to understand how law enforcement conducted its investigation. This approach has proved successful in a number of murder cases, most notably the Columbine High School reinvestigation as well as the Scott Peterson murder trail.

Today’s hostage negotiators are called “crisis negotiators,” and with good reason. Today the responsibility of these law enforcement professionals reaches far beyond talking down hostage takes and now includes suicide intervention, high-risk warrant service, and possibly counter-terrorism operations. Who are the members of the El Paso County Crisis Negotiations Team? What training is required to be a negotiator?

The D.A.R.E. program is more than just drug prevention education; it teaches students good decision-making skills to help them avoid high-risk behavior to ensure they grow up healthy, safe, and secure. Topics of discussion include bully prevention, the choking game, and how to stay safe on the internet and other emerging technologies. This totally new D.A.R.E. curriculum integrates the latest in research-based strategies into the world’s largest and most effective educational delivery network–DARE. This unique 17-week program is taught by a uniformed law enforcement officer to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. This officer comes to the classroom with training and experience that give him or her the background needed to answer the sophisticated questions often posed by young students about drugs, crime, and violence.

What is domestic violence? Why don’t women just leave? Is it true every call of domestic violence results in an arrest? Domestic violence is a unique and complex crime. Deputies must be knowledgeable about the current domestic violence laws as well as be familiar with the complex and unique circumstances surrounding domestic violence. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office can provide a detailed explanation of domestic violence situations.

According to statistics, between one and two million Americans age 65 or older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depended for care or protection. The potential for this to become a great problem is very likely, because of the increase in life expectancy and the expanding elderly population. Crimes such as thefts, assaults, sexual assaults, and financial-based crimes have a greater impact upon the elderly, who are often seen as easy targets. Often, the victims of elder abuse are reluctant to report the crimes, because of threats from the suspects or embarrassment. Our presentation will familiarize you with the crimes normally found in elder abuse investigation, present you with common tactics used by perpetrators of elder abuse, provide you with information that you can use to protect you and your loved ones from becoming victims of elder abuse, and provide you with a list of resources to help you.

Red wire or blue wire? Only in movies will that end up being the question asked to keep a bomb from going off. In reality, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Unit will use sophisticated technology, robotics, and specialized personal protective equipment to diagnose, isolate, and render safe explosive devices. From chemical bottle bombs found on YouTube to Weapons of Mass Destruction and the wide range of threats in between, the Bomb Squad trains for it all.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Evidence Unit, is composed of two civilian personnel. They are responsible for the intake of evidence property, safekeeping property, and found property. There are approximately 60,000 property items at the Evidence Facility. They include drugs, weapons, clothing, furniture, vehicles, and many other items. One of the most important functions of the Evidence Unit personnel is the Chain of Custody of all the property stored at the Evidence Facility. This includes tracking all property items from the time the items are placed into the Evidence Facility to the time the items are released to the proper owner, destroyed, or sent to auction.

This Unit targets and identifies crimes committed by individuals in gangs and hate groups in El Paso County’s jurisdiction. Deputies gather and obtain information for various sources about gang activity in the county.

How do you incorporate community collaboration efforts and battle the ever-increasing costs of the incarcerated population? Under the guidance of Sheriff Terry Maketa, the "Gateways through the Rockies Program" (Gateways) has evolved into a self-sustaining program. There is no cost to any segment of our community's tax base for this program, only benefits. The Gateways Program focuses on offering low-risk offenders opportunities to re-evaluate their decision-making process, develop work skills, and mold behaviors that are conducive to their reformation. This program reflects the fundamental concept of community policing a partnership among law enforcement, the community, and private enterprise to solve mutual problems.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was created in 1861, when El Paso County was formed as one of the 17 counties in the new Colorado Territory. Sheriff R. Scott Kelley was appointed Sheriff—the first of 27 men to hold that title over the next 150 years—and laid the foundation for an Office that currently sets the national standard in providing the best possible service to the citizens. The Office has evolved from the Sheriff and his deputy to a force of over 400 sworn members, 200 civilian support staff, and almost 600 volunteers.

Who are the members of the award winning El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard Unit? What types of events and ceremonies are they available for? How often do they train? Are the rifles they use real? Although the mission of today’s Honor Guard remains the same as in the past, the level of professionalism and skilled handling of flags and rifles has reached an all-time high. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard appears at many public and professional events. They honor fallen officers and remember the brave men and women who serve the community. What drives the men and women of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard? Where does their commitment, passion, and dedication come from?

We have all heard the adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is." Yet citizens of El Paso County continue to become victims of one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States as they have their information stolen or are victims of scam artists. Identity Theft in 2012 has become an even larger epidemic than in previous years. Businesses as well as individuals can become victims of this type of theft, which ranges from street level crime to high-tech organized groups. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Financial Crimes unit uses state-of-the-art investigative techniques, combined with good old-fashioned gumshoe hard work to investigate criminal complaints. Topics of discussion include how information can be compromised, what is done with stolen information, and how an individual or business can combat and prevent crimes.

How are arrestees/detainees processed into jail? What happens to their property and money? Is it true they are limited to one phone call? After their arrest can they post bond to be released from jail? Intake and release procedures are explained from the time the arrestee/detainee arrives at the Criminal Justice Center through his or her release from custody.

What types of incidents does the Internal Affairs Unit (IA) investigate? Is there a difference between a criminal investigation and an IA investigation? Is the IA unit involved in training? Committed to providing thorough and objective investigations, the IA unit diligently works to discover all facts pertinent to administrative investigations, specifically where there is allegation of employee misconduct. Additionally, the IA unit provides training to staff at all levels and both sworn and civilian employees in the areas of policy and procedure, ethics, use of force, and other topics, as well as assisting other agencies with special investigations.

New technologies bring new challenges. Parents need to understand these new technologies and help ensure their children are being safe. There are many dangers facing our children and the internet is one of them. This lecture will address the internet to include social websites, online gaming, and predators. We will also discuss cell phones, texting, and the newest issues with technologies. This lecture can be tailored for either adults or teenagers.

Why do we use dogs in law enforcement? Perhaps it’s because their sense of smell is 50 times stronger than that of a human. That enhanced sense of smell can be used to help law enforcement locate a variety of things and people. Can you guess what some of those things might be? With the proper training, police dogs can locate people and objects 10 times faster than officers can, and more importantly, much safer. Would you like to know more? Would you like to meet a Canine Handler and his K9 companion?

The presentation will cover a basic background of ethics as it pertains to law enforcement. This course will also assist in recognizing appropriate and inappropriate behavior of members of the Law Enforcement profession, and will identify potential consequences for unacceptable actions. We will explain the history and motivation for the Police Code of Ethics and its significance in today’s policing model. Some time will be spent explaining how misunderstood law enforcement actions can affect citizens’ perceptions and why it’s so important to cultivate a good working relationship with the public.

This presentation will cover what is considered a major crime. It will discuss the responsibilities of the first responding deputies. It outlines the considerations investigators must determine when investigation these crimes, the four goals of an investigation, and the three primary phases of an investigation.

They walk among you, dressed like you, driving cars like you. They are your neighbors, shop at the same grocery store as you, and are parents of your kids’ classmates. One big difference, they are out making drug deals—not like you. Nor are they like the drug dealers. Whom am I speaking of? Undercover detectives of Metro, Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence (MVNI). Learn what happens in undercover narcotic, prostitution, and gun operations. This presentation will cover basic information regarding what MVNI detectives do on a day-to-day basis and the impact this makes in our community.

Did you know that the Sheriff’s Office has a Mounted Unit? The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit was established 1996. The Mounted Unit is capable of supporting all components of the Sheriff’s Office. The mounted unit routinely patrols the unincorporated areas of El Paso County. In addition to its primary patrol function, the Mounted Unit assists with fugitive searches, evidence searches, crowd control, and search and rescue operations. The Mounted Unit also participates in and provides assistance to a variety of community events like the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, the El Paso County Fair, and the annual Air Force Academy Graduation.

Does the “Make My Day” law apply when I’m away from my home? How can I make sure my home and my family are safe from criminal activity? Neighborhood Watch/Crime Prevention training explains this and more to the citizens of our county. Find out how you can get involved in making a difference in your community.

Do patrol deputies really spend all their time in car chases and shootouts as the movies show? Have you ever wondered how many deputies patrol the unincorporated area of El Paso County at any given time? These are just a couple of the many questions that will be answered when the Patrol Section is highlighted for discussion. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn about the law enforcement efforts of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

The presentation will cover an overview of the 22-week El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Basic Law Enforcement Academy, which covers more than 800 hours of intensive, professional law enforcement training. As society has high expectations of its law enforcement professionals, this academy is designed to challenge recruits and test their innate ability to manage stress, display decorum and respect, learn and apply critical thinking, and demonstrate proficiencies with mandatory skills.

What has the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office done to stop recidivism? In August of 2007, the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center experienced a soaring recidivism rate of 70-75% among the overall inmate population. With public outcries to reduce tax burdens, limited funding resources, and the population explosion plaguing the county jail, El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa began to look at options for reducing the recidivism rate. The population explosion had a common theme—substance use and/or abuse. With this in mind, the Reintegration and Recovery Program evolved to address these problematic behaviors. Selected inmates are offered a therapeutic environment developed specifically to reduce the recidivism rate among offenders through a multi-systemic approach encompassing education and case management specific to the offender’s identified issues that led to the offender’s criminality and substance abuse.

Everyone knows and loves a volunteer fireman. Did you know that we have volunteer deputy sheriffs? Probably among the most exciting volunteer opportunities available today is becoming a member of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Section. Learn more about what it is like to serve as an unpaid law enforcement professional: patrolling the streets, assisting in the jail, and crowd management at many community and sporting events. Chances are good that if you are at a large public gathering in El Paso County, at least one of the deputies you see standing there is a volunteer Reserve Member. Learn more about this dedicated corps of volunteers; and if you are motivated to do so, consider becoming an "ultimate volunteer."

Today’s School Resource Officers (SROs) play an essential role in law enforcement’s never-ending effort to prevent crime. The SROs act as a liaison between their assigned schools and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Their primary role is to investigate crimes involving juveniles, staff, or anyone else related to the schools, either as victims or suspects. Today’s SROs also focus on educating students about crimes and how to avoid becoming a victim. SROs do this through teaching classes, conducting mediations, and mentoring students. The SROs also play a key role in the overall safety and security of the school. They assist in establishing emergency operation plans, as well as identifying and addressing threats to the schools.

Ever wonder what the Search and Rescue (SAR) team charges for its services? El Paso County is a large county. How effectively does SAR cover the county? What type of missions has SAR participated in? This briefing will cover why SAR exists, how it exists and operates, and some of its most high profile missions.

Were you aware most of sexual assault perpetrators are known to their victims? On television, most sexual assaults are done by strangers. That simply is not reality. Most of the sexual assaults we respond to happen after too much consumption of alcohol. Most sexual assaults on children are perpetrated by family or friends of the victim’s family. How do we investigate when it's one person’s word against another’s? How do we use forensics to make an arrest? What are the signs to look for if you think your child is a victim? These and other questions will be answered.

How does a license plate reader identify a stolen vehicle? What is it like to drive a marked patrol car with flashing overhead lights? Can a citizen volunteer really impound my truck? The Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol Unit does this, and more, to assist the Patrol Division on the streets. Find out how, and see if this volunteer opportunity might be something you would like to consider for yourself.

What is the Special Response Team? The Special Response Team (S.R.T.) is a tactical team composed of sworn personnel who have been highly recommended by their chain of command, have completed a rigorous physical agility course, oral assessment board, and survived a grueling 50-hour S.R.T. Basic Academy. Team members are currently assigned to sections within the Detentions Bureau. The S.R.T is responsible for providing an immediate, calculated, tactical response anywhere within the Detentions Bureau upon activation. The S.R.T. will be used to quell inmate disturbances and conduct other special operations within the Detention Bureau, as directed by the Bureau Chief.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team was formed in 1976. The team’s mission is to resolve critical incidents involving a threat to public safety which would otherwise exceed the capabilities of traditional law enforcement first responders. SWAT’s first goal is to resolve these critical incidents safely. SWAT deploys on a variety of high-risk missions to include High Risk Warrant Service, Hostage Situations, Barricaded Subjects, and Dignitary Protection.

With almost 499,000 registered motor vehicles in El Paso County, the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit’s top priorities are safety in school zones, reducing accidents and injuries related to traffic crashes, and DUI enforcement. Using the philosophy of “Education, Prevention, and Enforcement,” the Traffic Unit’s activities are driven by traffic safety concerns derived from citizen complaints and deputy identified problem areas. Working directly with citizens to solve traffic safety issues builds strong and productive relations with the community members we serve. What is a typical day like for a Traffic Deputy? How many tickets do deputies write? What training do deputies receive? How much money would a DUI arrest cost? How does a radar gun work? How can you have a ride-along experience with a deputy sheriff?

The unbelievable happens! You are a victim of a violent crime or someone you love dies unexpectedly. Where do you turn? What are the community resources available to you? How do you file for Victim’s Compensation? The Victim Assistance Program is here to help you, to walk alongside you during one of the worst times of your life. We can provide you with short-term crisis intervention, information, and referrals to a multitude of available community resources. Victim Advocates are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to make sure that your rights and needs as a victim are addressed by law enforcement. We are here to make sure your voice is heard!

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Volunteer Program officially began in 1996, growing from a handful of committed individuals to our current number of over 500 steadfast and loyal volunteers. These men and women have given the EPSO and its community, in 2011 alone, in excess of 96,000 volunteer service hours for a dollar value of $2.2 million dollars. Without our volunteers, the Sheriff’s Office would be without the resources or manpower to accomplish all that we are called to do. The impact on our community by our Corps of Volunteers is immeasurable. At this time our Volunteer Program offers over 35 areas of service opportunities for citizens to participate in. From our Wildland Fire Crew members who risk their lives to protect our environment to our Search and Rescue team who bring our loved ones home; from our Chaplains offering spiritual care to the inmates incarcerated within our Criminal Justice Center to the Chaplains who bring comfort and counsel to our deputies and the citizens who suffer unexpected loss; from our Reserve Deputies who support and assist our sworn personnel to our administrative volunteers who work alongside our civilian employees; the wide-range of services our volunteers provide are far-reaching and demonstrate true dedication and loyalty to the community of El Paso County and the Sheriff’s Office. If you would like to learn more about our Volunteer Program, please contact the Volunteer Program Coordinator at 520-7216.

Does the Sheriff really have a fire department? Do deputies fight fire as well? Who is the real Fire Marshal? Do we catch all of our arsonists? The only reason we complete fire investigations is to catch the bad guys, or is it? This briefing will cover the Sheriff’s responsibility to respond to wildland fires and how that is done. It will also provide an overview of our Arson program and why we complete arson investigations.
 

Did you know the first documented case of a female law enforcement officer was that of Rose Fortune; a self-appointed policewoman in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia in the late 1700s? Since then, women have increasingly realized greater numbers and assumed greater positions of authority in the profession of law enforcement, performing every task from clerical jobs, dispatchers, prison guards, detention deputies, patrolling/walking the beat, to running the organization—always with the mission of enhancing law enforcement, one woman at a time.