March, 2016 - Weld County: Sheriff`s Office

Weld County Sheriff’s Office
Monthly Newsletter
Weld County Sheriff’s Office Newsletter
Issue #6, March 1, 2016
Meet Nathan
Nathan is 22 year old college student, and is one of our interns
at the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. We currently have 4
interns that come to the Sheriff’s Office throughout the week.
The interns work with Jeff Sharon who is one of our Criminal
Intelligence Analysts. They get to see some of our current
investigations and are currently working on experiencing
different pieces of the Sheriff’s Office.
Why did you choose to be an intern with Weld County?
For my degree at CSU, I needed an internship to graduate. Since I was interested in going into law enforcement, I
decided to look around for an internship at any law enforcement agency. The Weld County Sheriff’s Office
offered an internship that had the most exposure to the different aspects of law enforcement.
What are your career goals?
I am currently enrolled in the Aims Community College POST Academy so I am hoping to get on with a law
enforcement agency in Northern Colorado after graduation this May.
Is there anything you have experienced at the Sheriff’s Office so far that you really enjoyed?
My most enjoyable experience so far is helping investigate two high profile cases that happened at the end of
2015.
pg. 3
Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
Meet Anna
Anna is 23 year old college student, and is one of our interns at
the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. We currently have 4 interns
that come to the Sheriff’s Office throughout the week. The
interns work with Jeff Sharon who is one of our Criminal
Intelligence Analysts. They get to see some of our current
investigations and are currently working on experiencing
different pieces of the Sheriff’s Office.
Why did you choose to be an intern with Weld County?
I chose to intern with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office because I want to have the opportunity to develop new
skills that a classroom setting cannot give me. I would also like to get the chance learning the skill abilities needed
to be in law enforcement. I hope that the opportunity opens doors to future career paths as well.
What are your career goals?
My career goals are not fully set. I enjoy working with people and making the community a better place. I either
want to become a police officer, probation officer, or work for child protective services. I am in search of the
experience that will help me lean towards the right career that suites me. I hope that the Sheriff’s Office helps me
set my career path.
Is there anything you have experienced at the Sheriff’s Office so far that you really enjoyed?
So far my experience at the Sheriff’s Office has been an eye opener. I keep looking forward to what the remainder
of my time at the Sheriff’s Office has in store for me.
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
A Repurposed Rescue Vehicle
A decommissioned military vehicle gets a second chance
As some of you may know, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office has a decommissioned
MRAP Military Vehicle. The Sheriff’s Office acquired the MRAP to use in emergency
situations as a rescue vehicle. During a snow storm this month we were able to put this
resource to good use. While the snow may have been an obstacle for some vehicles on the
road throughout the duration of the storm, our rescue vehicle was able to easily navigate
through the weather, and we were able to successfully use it to rescue members of our
community who would have otherwise been stranded in the weather.
Thanks for everything
Les Cogswell retired in
February of 2016, but we
have still been able to catch a
few glimpses of him around
the office.
Les was very happy to see his
retirement plaque, presented
to him by Sheriff Steve
Reams earlier this month.
Les devoted 31 years
of his life to the Weld County
Sheriff’s Office; a plaque is a
very small token of
appreciation in comparison to
everything that he gave this
agency.
Les had a powerful influence
on those around him, and he
is greatly missed. We are
thankful for every opportunity
to see him, and we hope that he
enjoys his retirement as much
as we enjoyed having him here
at the Weld County Sheriff’s
Office.
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
Training Reality
Top: Role players discuss scenarios as instructors prepare the students for the next event.
Bottom: Safety Officers look on as student gain control of a simulated situation.
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Weld County Sheriff
How do we train a deputy?
There are numerous posts
on Facebook, or articles in
previous newsletters that
talk about the rigorous
training that our deputies go
through before working in
the jail or on patrol. We can
all agree that the skills
needed to work in law
enforcement do not come
from classroom instruction
alone, but what lengths do
we go through to ensure that
we are putting the best
people into this career field?
In law enforcement we try to
train for realistic situations
that can be encountered on
a daily basis. One of the
March 2016
best avenues to teach adult
students is through hands-on
training; this comes at a cost.
In order to depict life like
scenarios, senior deputies
take on the role of inmate
and act out real situations
that they have actually
encountered during their time
with the Sheriff’s Office. This
technique is used throughout
the agency in the Detentions,
Courts and Patrol Divisions.
In the last week of February,
trainees in the Detentions
Division got their first taste of
possible scenarios they may
experience on duty. For
some trainees, this is an eye
Above: Senior deputies act out scenarios that they have experienced during
their time on duty
opener that will give them a
glimpse of what is to come.
Senior deputies acting as role
players look at this as an
opportunity to share some of
their experiences with the new
deputies. They do this at their
own expense, coming in on
their day off to play the part of
inmate.
The training scenarios are built
in a way that allows the trainee
to use all of the skills they have
learned during their time in the
academy. Skills like
observation of actions and
emotions that they will see on
duty, interpersonal
communications skills that will
help them interact with
combative or troubled
individuals, and defensive
techniques that will help them
gain control of situations that
many of them have never seen
with before. Scenarios are
carried out in a controlled
environment, complete with
safety officers and evaluation
officers.
This event marks the end of the
first leg of their training. From
here, the trainee will learn oneon-one from a Field Training
Officer as they integrate with
their shift, and learn the insand-outs of their new career.
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
Continued
VFW Americanism Award
On Sunday, February 28, 2016, Deputy Hargett was presented with an award from the Greeley
VFW Post 2121. Deputy Hargett and other recipients were recognized for their work in the
community in 2015. Great Job Deputy Hargett!
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
Training Safety
New deputies are evaluated on
their ability to perform tasks
during the final phase of the
Defensive Tactics class in the
Detentions Academy.
Trainees learn techniques that
will allow them to defend
themselves and others. More
importantly, they learn to do this
in a way that ensures that they do
not cause injury while performing
the techniques.
This is another piece of the
rigorous training that each deputy
goes through before transitioning
out of the academy.
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
Enhancing Community Partnerships
This month, a portion of the Weld County Range Team had the honor of training with members of the
Colorado Army National Guard Recruiting Station in Greeley Colorado.
The training day consisted of an instructional period from National Guardsman on how to treat medical
emergencies that could be seen on the range environment. After the medical portion of training, they
joined the Range Team for pistol and rifle instruction. This was a unique opportunity for both parties
involved, as it gave the Weld County Sheriff’s Office a new perspective on medical attention from an
Army perspective, and it gave the Guardsman a look at how law enforcement officers training on the
range. We look forward to more community partnerships just like this one in the future!
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Weld County Sheriff
March 2016
A Taste of Weld County
This month the Weld County Sheriff’s Office had the
honor of hosting the Leadership of Weld County as
they learned a little bit about the Sheriff’s Office.
Participants were introduced to many of the different
pieces of our agency during their tour. They learned
about our SWAT Team, and the tools that they have at
their disposal. They learned about our K-9 Unit, and
were able to watch a demonstration by K-9 Handler
Deputy Fortin and his K-9 counterpart LOKI. They
were also introduced to our Posse, and saw a
demonstration of how they could be utilized in a riot
situation.
Participants finished the day with a
tour of the Weld County Jail, and a
demonstration from the S.T.A.R.
(Special Tactics and Response) Team.
If you would like to see a few of the
areas that were on display that day,
please visit our YouTube channel, or
look us up on our app (MyPD)
available on Android and IPhone
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Farwell
Last month former Undersheriff Sterling Geesaman started his transition into the life of retirement. Sterling has
been a part of the Sheriff's Office for almost 33 years, and we are grateful for everything he has done in his
time here.
Good luck Sir!
Weld County Sheriff’s Office Public
Information Officer
Corporal Matt Turner
2110 “O” St.
Greeley, CO 80631
mturner@co.weld.co.us
(970) 356-4015 Ext. 2802