HELPING DEPUTIES PREVENT CRIME
COMMUNITY SERVICE SPECIALIST OFFERS SUPPORT IN CRIME RESPONSE, INVESTIGATIONS AND MORE
Two years ago, Gerri Kassel got the itch to try something different at the Sheriff's Office. She'd been working in the Arapahoe County Detention Facility booking inmates, but she really wanted to be outdoors.
"I wanted to work out in the field, in the community. I really wanted to help people," says Gerri Kassel, Community Service Specialist.
Kassel is a civilian employee, not a sworn peace officer. Still, she knew the perfect job was out there. So when the Community Service Specialist (CSS) position opened up, she applied and was hired.
"It sounded so interesting. You go on calls for service just as deputy would, but you don't deal with suspects and you don't carry a weapon," says Kassel.
Kassel trained on the road for three weeks, then she was on her own -- responding to calls for abandoned vehicles, recovered auto thefts, thefts from motor vehicles and graffiti.
On this particular day, Kassel was photographing evidence and swabbing for DNA samples from a suspect who tried to steal a van from a local business.
"I love processing a crime scene, that's my favorite part of the job. I'm hoping to someday transition to Crime Scene Investigation. That's my ultimate goal," says Kassel.
Kassel is so good at what she does, she often gets kudos from the public like the note below. She says people are constantly thanking her for what she does and they appreciate her presence in the community.
The Sheriff's Office currently has two positions open for Community Service Specialist. If you're interested, you can apply HERE.
"I love my job. It's different every day and it's the first job I've ever had where I actually enjoy coming to work," says Kassel.
THE PINK PATCH PROJECT BEGINS
MERCHANDISE FOR SALE TO RAISE MONEY FOR PROSTATE & BREAST CANCER PATIENTS
During the months of September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Sheriff's Office sells blue and pink merchandise to help support local cancer patients in Colorado. All the money raised from the sale of items helps fund treatment for cancer patients at Littleton Adventist Hospital.
The merchandise includes blue and pink pins, patches, hats, challenge coins and more. Click HERE to see our online store.
“As a law enforcement agency, we want to give back to the people we serve," says Sheriff Tyler Brown. "We’re stronger together and more powerful in our fight to beat cancer.”
OPEN HOUSE DRAWS RECORD CROWD
On August 13, Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown and Arapahoe County Coroner Dr. Kelly Lear, hosted an Open House and free pancake breakfast for the community. This year's event drew the largest crowd to date. More than 2,000 people showed up to watch our K9 demonstrations, see our SWAT and Bomb trucks, pet our Mounted Unit horses, watch a vehicle extrication, take a history tour and a Coroner's Facility tour, and new this year -- watch a Denver Police helicopter land on our front lawn!
We served up hundreds of pancakes, sold $3K in merchandise and raised $1K for our charity, the Pink Patch Foundation. We couldn't be more thankful to our wonderful community for the support we received this year. Read more about the day in The Villager.
Check out our most memorable moments of the day by clicking the button below.
'REXRUN' RAISES $33K FOR BACK THE BLUE K9 FORCE
Our very first 'RexRun 2022' was an outstanding success! It was a beautiful, sunny day at Dove Valley Park in Centennial, where hundreds turned out with their dogs in tow. More than $33K was raised for Back the Blue K9 Force, a nonprofit that helps law enforcement agencies in Colorado pay for school therapy dogs and law enforcement K-9s, and also covers their medical costs and other supplies.
"This was a great first year and a great start. The money we raised gave us the ability to not only outfit every one of our police dogs with bulletproof vests, but it also allowed us to purchase another school therapy dog," said Deputy John Gray, Rex's handler.
The inaugural 5K run/walk was named after our first school therapy dog, Rex, a black lab. The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office now has a second dog, Zeke, who is Rex's brother.
In addition to the run and walk, the day featured K9 demonstrations and auctions, plus vendor booths and even a dance contest! It was truly a day to remember.
Read more about this story in the Centennial Citizen.
We hope you enjoy the photos.💙🖤
SHERIFF JOINS WESTERN WELCOME WEEK PARADE
Sheriff Tyler Brown and the Mounted Unit were back in the saddle for the City of Littleton's Western Welcome Week Grand Parade on August 20.
The event is an annual tradition of celebrating the City of Littleton, supporting organizations and nurturing community spirit. Along with our Mounted Unit was our motorcycle traffic unit, SWAT vehicle, patrol cars, bicycle patrol and our Honor Guard. This was the 94th year for the parade.
TAKE PART IN REAL-LIFE POLICE SCENARIOS
Sign up for our next Citizens' Academy October 4 - 29
Ever wondered what a Deputy Sheriff does or what it's like to work in law enforcement? Here's your chance! Sign up for our fall Citizens' Academy coming up in October. You'll get to see and experience real-life scenarios and learn about all areas of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.
Go inside the jail. Learn about SWAT. See a bomb robot. Watch a K-9 demonstration. Try your hand at dusting for fingerprints and so much more.
The citizens academy runs October 4-29, 2022 and will be in-person. Space is limited so hurry and sign up below.
NATIONAL FAITH & BLUE WEEKEND
Law enforcement agencies across the country are partnering with faith-based organizations over the weekend of October 7-10 to help build stronger communities through houses of worship. Watch the video to see what Faith & Blue is all about.
The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, together with Summit Church, will host our first Faith & Blue event — a Sunday Service and Community Forum called “Stronger Together” on October 9 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Summit Church, 7200 S. Clinton St. in Centennial. It's free, open to the public and people of all faiths are invited to attend.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown, along with other deputies and community leaders will host the community forum to discuss better ways to work together to build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and those we serve.
After the service, we invite everyone to stay for a free BBQ lunch in the parking lot where we’ll grill hamburgers and hot dogs. Deputies will stay to meet and mingle, interact with the community and open up dialog. We'll also showcase some of our department resources, such as our K9 unit, mounted patrol horses and school therapy dogs. We hope you'll join us!