K9 DEPUTIES GET FIRST-AID KITS FOR DOGS
Medical trauma kits were purchased after K9 was seriously injured
It was April 19, 2022 around 6 a.m., when deputies were out searching for a robbery suspect. K9 Atlas picked up the suspect's scent in a dumpster and his handler hoisted the dog inside to try to find him. Within minutes, they made an arrest; however, K9 Atlas had stepped on a sharp piece of glass, severely cutting his paw and lacerating an artery. His handler acted quickly and made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, then rushed the dog to the veterinary hospital where he underwent surgery to save his life.
"These medical kits have been in the works for a long time, but when K9 Atlas was severely injured, we made it our goal to get them immediately," says Sgt. Brian Starbuck, K9 Unit.
Deputy Jeff Meyers, a SWAT medic who recently attended K9 first-aid training, helped purchase the new kits and will train the K9 handlers on how to use them.
"These are personalized kits specific to a K9, with a dog-sized tourniquet. Having this equipment on hand could mean the difference between life and death for a valuable working police dog," says Deputy Jeff Meyers, SWAT Medic.
Aside from a tourniquet, the kits also include bandages, gauze, chest seals, trimmers, a dog thermometer, a dog-sized oxygen mask, a muzzle, narcan, an eye shield, ice sheets to cool them down, and even a K9 litter -- a stretcher to carry an injured dog. Essentially, everything a K9 would need to be stabilized before transport to the veterinarian.
"Having this equipment allows us to treat our dogs on the spot with advanced life-saving measures. We have medical kits for humans. It's nice to now have those same medical kits for the dogs," says Sgt. Starbuck.
The backpack will be stored in the SWAT medical van, while the six K9 handlers will carry a smaller version of the first-aid kits in a fanny pack attached to their bullet proof vests.
Sgt. Starbuck says the cost for six small medical kits and two large ones was about $2,000 -- a small price to pay to help save the lives of these police dogs if they're hurt in the line of duty.
Watch the 9News story below when K9 Atlas was injured in April.
NEW POLICE ACADEMY BEGINS
First class of the newly-launched ACSO Training Academy is now underway
The Sheriff's Office's very first police academy started on July 11 with 27 recruits. The new ACSO Training Academy ("ACSOTA") began at 8 a.m. with a welcoming ceremony, an invocation, then straight out to the field for inspections.
ACSOTA is a physical academy and recruits are expected to be in good physical condition. After some failed their uniform inspection, they were tasked with a round of burpees and a two-mile run.
The class will last 23 weeks, with the recruits graduating on December 16. From all of us at the Sheriff's Office, we want to welcome the first recruit class of 2022 and we congratulate you on the start of a rewarding career in law enforcement. We wish each and every one of you the very best!
To learn more about the new ACSO Training Academy, click HERE.
If you'd like to apply to become a Deputy Sheriff and attend our new police academy, click the button below to get started with the application process. We encourage you to apply! Also, join our recruiters LIVE on Facebook and YouTube on August 2 at 10am MT for answers to all your questions.
SHERIFF AND CORONER TO DISCUSS THE FENTANYL CRISIS
Have you or someone you know been affected by Fentanyl? Fentanyl is now the number one cause of overdose deaths in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
On August 4, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Arapahoe Sheriff Tyler Brown and Arapahoe Coroner Dr. Kelly Lear will answer all your questions LIVE on Facebook.
They'll talk about the Fentanyl crisis in Arapahoe County, how Narcan is used by deputies on patrol and in the jail, the use of Fentanyl test strips, how the number of deaths in Arapahoe County has increased significantly from Fentanyl poisoning, why people are dying from it and what's being found during the autopsies. You don't want to miss it. We hope you'll join us.
If you missed Sheriff Brown's last Facebook Live on Mental Health & Co-Responders, you can watch it on our You Tube channel below.
POPSICLES ON PATROL
You've heard of pop-up shops, well, check out our new pop-up popsicle stand! Dozens of kids got free popsicles at the Holly Pool in Centennial last week. Our new 'Popsicles on Patrol' team popped up unexpectedly to bring smiles and treats to lots of kids!
Keep an eye out this summer for our colorful new push cart.
All treats are FREE. 'Popsicles on Patrol' will be popping up at a park or pool near you!
Join Rex for a 5K Walk/Run
The Rex Run for PAWSitivity is right around the corner. It takes place on August 6 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm at Dove Valley Park in Centennial.
It's a fun-filled day for families that includes a 5K run/walk, silent auction, pet costume contest, bouncy houses and obstacle courses, meet-and-greets with the ACSO K9s and Mounted Unit, a softball tournament and lots of vendors. See the full schedule below.
All the money raised at Rex Run 2022 goes to Back the Blue K9 Force to help purchase more police K9s and school therapy dogs for law enforcement agencies throughout Colorado.
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE SHERIFF & CORONER... PANCAKES ARE ON US!
We're just two weeks away from our biggest event of the year -- the Sheriff and Coroner's Open House and Free Pancake Breakfast. So mark your calendars for August 13 from 8am-Noon. This is your chance to climb into a SWAT vehicle, see K-9s in action, watch a vehicle extrication, pet our Mounted Unit horses and therapy dogs and even try out ‘maggot art.’ Plus, take a tour of the Coroner's Facility, the 911 Dispatch Center and a history tour of the Sheriff’s Office.
Oh, and did we mention the FREE pancakes, sausage and OJ? Bring your family & friends and come explore all the different parts of ACSO. Check out the video below to see what you can expect this year!
FUN AT THE FAIR
The Arapahoe County Fair just ended and even though our deputies were busy protecting the public, they also had a blast interacting with citizens and tasting the food. Fairgoers got to pet our Mounted Patrol Horses and School Therapy Dogs, Rex and Zeke. Here are some of our favorite moments from the county fair.
SHOP WITH A COP
We had so much fun shopping with these back-to-school students! The Salvation Army Centennial Corps hosted 'Shop with a Cop' for school supplies at Target. What an honor it was to help these kids pick out new clothes, shoes, notebooks and much more. Their school year is going to be off to a great start. Check out some of our favorite photos below.