WE LOST A FRIEND
It is with great sadness the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office announces the passing of Deputy Kraig Conger. Deputy Conger suffered a major heart attack while on duty. He passed away on December 28 at the age of 51.
Kraig worked at the Sheriff's Office for 22 years. He began his career at the Arapahoe County Detention Facility in 2000. In 2013, he was assigned to the Detention Services Bureau newly created ADMIT program where he worked until his death.
Deputy Conger received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Colorado State University and played basketball under scholarship at CSU.
In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious Russ Oberlin Respect for Law award by the Littleton Optimist Club for his commitment to his community and his service with the ACSO.
While Conger worked in a variety of positions, the one he truly made a difference in is the Arapahoe Diverts Mentally Ill to Treatment (ADMIT) program. He helped make the program a success for those who were part of it.
Kraig devoted his time to mentoring the youth in his community and coaching them in football, basketball and baseball. He was also passionate about his job. His continued service, both as a professional law enforcement officer and as a community volunteer, highlights the value he brought to our area. There is no doubt he had a significant impact in this community and in his profession. We are proud to have been his colleague and friend.
Deputies escort Conger's body to funeral home
Deputy Conger is survived by his wife Leslie, his son Kaleb, 17, and his daughter Hannah, 14.
Kraig, you will be missed but never forgotten. Rest easy friend, we have the watch from here.
A fund has been set up to help the Conger family with living expenses. If you'd like to donate, please click the button below.
MONDAY MORNINGS AT THE ARAPAHOE COUNTY JAIL
"This is not a fun place to be," says Sgt. Michael Solomon.
Jail can be a confusing and unnerving place, especially if it's your first time in custody. But if you're arrested on a weekend, Sgt. Michael Solomon says be prepared for 'organized chaos' at the Arapahoe County Jail.
Mondays mornings are very busy at the jail. There's a lot of arrests on Friday and Saturday nights -- DUI's, assaults, domestic violence. Combine that with all the court transports and the fact that we're short-staffed, people get restless and that's when fights can sometimes happen," says Sgt. Solomon.
When the Arapahoe County Detention Facility was built more than 30 years ago, it was only meant to serve 400 inmates. Today, it houses close to 900 per day. The lack of space can often create a dangerous environment for both deputies and inmates.
The Booking and Release area is small and often over capacity, especially on Monday mornings, when all 20 seats are full and there's standing room only. Booking is the busiest part of the facility where new inmates are processed and departing inmates are released. It's also where inmates travel to and from court. In addition, if inmates arrive who are enemies, deputies have to try to keep them apart.
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“We're getting more push back from inmates, more fights and more assaults on our officers. On top of that, we're also dealing with a huge mental health crisis and we have several inmates on suicide watch," says Sgt. Solomon.
Yet another crisis is the building itself. The jail's infrastructure is failing: walls are crumbling, ceilings are leaking, pipes are corroded and the sewage is backing up.
"When inmates complain their cell floods or the water is an issue, we take care of it immediately. We do care about them. We know it's hard for them to be here and we want to treat them with respect," says Sgt. Solomon.
Jail is not fun for an inmate whether it's a crowded Monday morning or any other day. But for the hard-working deputies who work many hours of overtime, their focus and priority is the inmate's safety and security.
"If we can get them the help, support and resources they need while they're in here to return to the community better than when they came in, then we've succeeded."
FIRST CLASS to graduate from nEW POLICE ACADEMY
The ACSO Training Academy launched in July
After 23 weeks of intense training, 24 recruits graduated from the new Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office Training Academy and became deputy sheriffs. They took the oath to serve and protect the citizens of Arapahoe County and were sworn in on December 16 by Sheriff Tyler Brown in front of their family and friends. These recruits, now deputies, put in the hard work and we are extremely proud of them. We wish each and every one of them the very best in their law enforcement career!
Watch the full graduation ceremony on our YouTube Channel below.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Deputy Sheriff, click the button below.
CHIEF GLENN THOMPSON RETIRES AFTER 34 YEARS
The year was 1982. Glenn Thompson was a freshman at Douglas County High School. Even at the young age of 14, he already knew what he wanted to do, so he joined the Explorer program at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office. The local paper was so impressed, it wrote a story.
The reason I got into law enforcement is because my sister was a police officer with the CU Boulder Police. I used to go on ride- alongs with her and that's when I realized I always wanted to be a police officer," said Chief Glenn Thompson.
Thompson remained an Explorer cadet for seven years, assisting at community events and even meeting local celebrities.
In 1988, he took a full time job as a Dispatcher. Soon after, Thompson joined the 'Sheriff's Posse.' Back then, the Sheriff's Posse was a reserve program which prepares you to become a Deputy Sheriff. In 1990 he graduated from the police academy.
Over the years, Thompson rose through the ranks. First, working in the jail, then out on patrol. In 2000, he was promoted to Sergeant and by 2007, became a Lieutenant.
I'll never forget in 1997, I responded to a call about a suspicious person and ended up arresting a serial rapist who had been terrorizing the metro area." says Thompson.
Thompson also remembers working on World Youth Day in 1993 and assisting at the Columbine High School Shooting in 1999. He's received numerous awards over the years for his many achievements.
In 2012, Thompson was appointed to Captain by Sheriff Grayson Robinson.
Two years later, Sheriff David Walcher appointed him to Bureau Chief of the Public Safety Bureau. Thompson was put in charge of more than 300 employees who work on patrol, patrol special operations and investigations. He was also in charge of managing the $33 million contract for law enforcement services for the City of Centennial. It was a job he enjoyed and was making a difference by forming an excellent relationship with the City and its elected officials.
“Glenn Thompson was serving our community as a member of the Sheriff’s Office even before Centennial was incorporated in 2001. He's always been reliable, forthcoming and committed to the successful partnership between the City and Sheriff’s Office for the benefit of our community. Through the years, he's shown his dedication by helping maintain the CALEA accreditation for more than two decades and assisting in the development of the co-responder program. The City of Centennial would like to thank Chief Thompson for his unwavering support. His insight, sense of humor and overall diligence will be missed. On behalf of the City, we wish Chief Thompson the best and know he will enjoy some well-earned relaxation." -- Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko.
The co-responder program is something Chief Thompson is most proud of. That, and implementing a new Special Response Team which works alongside the Special Investigations Unit to get guns and drugs off the streets. He also worked to expand the School Resource Officer Unit, K9 Unit, Drone Team and helped launch the Unified Metropolitan Forensic Crime Lab.
This has been my dream job. I will miss the people and being able to help out the community. Making things better for this community was always my ultimate goal," says Thompson.
As anyone will tell you, Chief Thompson is a good sport who rarely ever turned down an opportunity to be part of the fun.
His new goal in retirement is to spend more time with his kids and grandkids, golfing, fishing and skiing while dividing his time between Colorado and Oklahoma.
Chief Thompson, from all of us at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, we wish you the very best in your retirement. Thank you for the 34 years you have served this community and the citizens of Arapahoe County. Farewell and Godspeed. We will miss you!
TODDLER GETS A SURPRISE VISIT FROM DEPUTIES
Deputy Ashley Nylander responded to a call in Centennial in early December where she met 3-year-old Braxton Dean who is battling leukemia. Deputy Nylander wanted to do something special for the little boy so she returned to his home a few days later to cheer him up with some Christmas gifts from the Sheriff's Office.
Braxton has ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) and is currently undergoing chemotherapy and cancer treatment at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He was thrilled to see our deputies arrive with a huge bag filled with toy police cars, coloring books, Rex stuffies and Christmas toys. We hope you get well soon, Braxton. We are all praying for your recovery! 💙🖤
Click the button below to follow Braxton's journey.
THE HAPPY POLICE HORSE: PART 2
The much-anticipated sequel to "The Happy Police Horse" has been released. “Julie’s Wish” is the heartwarming story of Love Bug, the miniature therapy horse, and her role on the Arapahoe Mounted Unit. Love Bug goes to hospitals to visit sick children and teaches us that compassion is more important than size and strength.
The book will be used for the "Reading to Horses" program, where Mounted Unit deputies and volunteers go to local elementary schools and allow students to read the book to the horses. The kids not only get their own free copy (thanks to generous donations from the community), but they also get to meet and pet the horses and talk to deputies in a positive and relaxed setting.
Our hope is to engage the youth through reading and education and encourage them to have a positive outlook on law enforcement. We also hope this book, like the first one, will keep the Reading to Horses program interesting and exciting for the kids," says Lt. Rich Anselmi.
To purchase a signed copy of the book (yes, it's signed by Benelli and Love Bug!), click the button below. The book will also be sold at the National Western Stock Show Gift Shop from January 7-23.
K9 CALENDARS NOW ON SALE!
Start the new year with a 2023 calendar! Our K9 Unit and School Therapy Dogs are all featured in the new K-9 Calendar from Back The Blue K-9 Force. The cost is $15 ($20 if mailed) and all the proceeds raised from sales go toward the purchase of more police dogs, their equipment and medical costs for law enforcement agencies. Click the button to purchase your calendar today.