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ARAPAHOE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE The Detail Newsletter - march 2022

DEPUTIES SAVING LIVES WITH NARCAN

"I don't care whether someone overdoses on drugs accidentally or intentionally. It's our job to try to save their life," says Deputy Calderon-Calzada.

When Deputy Christopher Calderon-Calzada responded to an overdose call on December 14, 2021, he knew he had to act fast. A 50-year-old woman needed help. Her friend had called 911 saying she was unconscious. When the deputy arrived, he learned the woman had taken a "blue pill" possibly laced with fentanyl.

Photo of the victim from deputy's body worn camera

Within seconds, Deputy Calderon-Calzada administered Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse an opioid overdose and prevent death. Then, he performed CPR and chest compressions. Thankfully, the woman responded and woke up.

"This is a human life. I may not agree with what they did, but saving them gives them a chance to get help," says Calderon-Calzada.

Calderon-Calzada estimates he's had at least eight encounters with overdoses and has saved six lives using Narcan in the past two years. Each person he's used it on has survived. Fentanyl, he says, was present in two of the cases.

"Fentanyl is dangerous and it doesn't just affect certain areas, it's everywhere. No one is immune."

Because he's administered Narcan so much, he now keeps several containers in his patrol car at all times.

Narcan is dispensed to deputies from a vending machine at the sheriff's office.

Looking back, Deputy Calderon-Calzada says he's happy he's been able to help people using Narcan, and while he doesn't typically follow-up with victims, the 50-year-old woman reached out to him a few days later to thank him.

"She just began to cry and said her doctor told her she had a blood clot in her lung and would have died that day had it not been for the Narcan," said Calderon-Calzada.

Deputy Calderon-Calzada shares more about his experience from the frontline of the fentanyl crisis in the story below on Denver7.

DEPUTIES & ANIMAL SERVICES SEIZE PUPPIES LIVING IN FILTH

On February 22 around 1:00 pm, Deputy Hurwitz responded to an apartment on South Quebec Street regarding a woman having been bit by a dog. What he found were 10 dogs -- mastiff/pitbull mixes -- living in deplorable conditions.

Some of the dogs had just been fighting. One of the adult dogs was bleeding from an attack by the others.

Deputies were overcome by the smell of dog feces, urine, blood, decay and debris all over the apartment. The smell was so foul, deputies had trouble breathing. There was no food or water to be found.

Five of the puppies were confined together in a locked wire cage with no room to move and no access to water. Deputies immediately contacted Arapahoe County Animal Services who responded and seized all the animals.

Animal Services transports the dogs to a local shelter for treatment and care

Due to the destruction in the home, lack of proper care for the animals, poor living conditions and no access to food and water, the woman was charged with 10 counts of Misdemeanor Cruelty to Animals.

Deputy Hurwitz transports one of the dogs in his patrol vehicle

Watch the full story below on Denver7.

FROM STAY-AT-HOME MOM TO AUTHOR TO COP

Deputy Escamilla pens romance novels now selling on Amazon

For stay-at-home moms, finding a creative outlet isn't always easy. But in 2013, in the midst of raising two toddlers, Michelle Escamilla decided she needed a new hobby.

Michelle Escamilla with her two kids

She loved to read books, but even that wasn't enough. So one day, she put pen to paper and started writing a novel. Six months later, she published her first book, a paranormal thriller called 'Dark Secret.'

"I made $350 from book sales and that was a lot for me at the time! Plus I sold e-books too. It was enough incentive to keep going and try to write a sequel," says Deputy Escamilla.

Escamilla didn't just write one sequel, she wrote a trilogy. Then, in the years that followed, she tried her hand at a romance novel. When all was said and done, she had written and published five books, including her best seller, 'Careful What You Wish For,' what she calls a short and funny romantic comedy.

"It became so therapeutic for me to write, I just kept going. It allowed me to escape into my own fantasy world," says Escamilla.

Soon after all five books were published, Escamilla went through a divorce. During that time, she decided to pursue the career she had always wanted since she was a child -- to become a cop. She applied for a job at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and was hired in 2016. She's now a School Resource Officer at Eaglecrest High School.

"I really hope people start to take up reading again. They just don't read much anymore. I mean, we read news stories online but it's not the same. Let's get back to reading something fun and take our minds off the world."

To purchase the books written by Deputy Michelle Escamilla, click the button below.

JOIN US AT THE POLAR PLUNGE!

Help us raise money for Special Olympics Colorado

The Sheriff’s Office is once again participating in the Polar Plunge on Saturday, April 2 at the Aurora Reservoir. The event is open to the public and is so much fun to watch!

It's always held during the winter when brave souls run into the icy water despite the low temperature. The participants raise money for Special Olympics Colorado. The proceeds provide year round sports training and competition for athletes.

If you can't or don't want to take the plunge, you can still come out and show your support, make a donation or even volunteer your time. If you register before March 18, you'll receive a FREE t-shirt to wear at the polar plunge to show your pride and support for Special Olympics.

This is a great family activity and everyone is welcome so please invite your friends, family and neighbors and support our team!

DRUG TAKE BACK DAY

Get rid of your old, unused and expired prescription drugs

Start saving your unwanted prescription drugs NOW! Our next Drug Take Back Day is April 30. Let us help you get rid of your old and expired prescription drugs safely.

The sheriff's office will have three locations to choose from. They will be open from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

  • Kaiser Permanente - 5555 E. Arapahoe Rd.
  • Smoky Hill Library - 5430 S. Biscay Cir.
  • Centennial Medical Plaza - 14200 E. Arapahoe Rd.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This take-back event is an opportunity for residents to help make their homes safer by disposing of their unused and unwanted prescription drugs.

If you are unable to get to a collection site, the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has a medication drop box in the lobby of their headquarters at 13101 E. Broncos Parkway in Centennial. The lobby is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Meantime, please continue to keep your prescription medicine out of reach of children and locked up.

Drop box at Sheriff's Office Headquarters Lobby

PROMOTIONS

Congratulations to Captain Travis Stewart, Lieutenant Darren Gammel and Sergeant Robert Horvath on their promotions this month. We thank you for your commitment to this agency and for the great work you do. We wish you the very best in your new position.

"I recognize your sacrifice. This is a tough job and I want to thank you for answering the call," says Sheriff Tyler Brown.

WE APPRECIATE YOU

February 15, 2022 was the first time a national day was set aside to honor and appreciate School Resource Officers -- the men and women dedicated to keeping our schools and students safe. Sheriff Tyler Brown, along with the Superintendents of the four school districts we patrol, thanked them at a special breakfast event for National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

Sgt. Adam Workman was on routine patrol when he ran into two little girls at Walmart who tried to lure him over with a story about girl scout cookies. He decided he couldn't resist the 'highly addictive substance' being sold by these two 'pint-sized pushers' -- Julianna and Lizzy, when he finally succumbed to their cuteness and bought a few boxes!