The latest news, information and highlights from CDPS.
The Public Safety Post

"It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better."
–Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

"There's no limit possible to the expansion of each one of us."
–Charles Schwab

Dear CDPS Members,

The most successful leaders in our country inherently understand that the pursuit of excellence is a never-ending effort.

I hope that you know by now how proud I am of the amazing work you do, and of the top-quality people you are. The Department of Public Safety is highly trusted by the public we serve and highly regarded among our peers in state government. We hold that shining reputation in part because we have a culture of continually asking: how can we be even better? 

I want to be very clear in stating that I believe in you, I trust you, and I think you are already doing excellent work. We have very high-performing divisions within CDPS. Striving to be even better and to continually improve does not reflect that we're doing something wrong, but just the opposite: that we're doing things right. 

Thank you for working side-by-side as a team on this rewarding journey of continuous positive movement.

– Executive Director Stan Hilkey
Calendar

Training

CBI Seeks CALEA
Re-Accreditation 
A team of assessors with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will visit the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to examine all aspects of the Bureau, including policies, procedures, management, operations and support services, beginning on March 12, 2017.

CBI earned initial accreditation in 2014 and must comply with 189 standards to continue current CALEA accreditation status. Read More...

Around the State in 900 Days: Gietl Appraises Every Single CDPS Location
If you were to guess how many locations the Department of Public Safety has around this state, what would you say? A few dozen? 75? 100?

You might be surprised to learn that CDPS has 197 locations throughout Colorado -- and CDPS Liability and Risk Manager Ed Gietl has personally appraised every single one. 

Over the course of two and a half years, Gietl made his way to each location in order to complete a CDPS facility appraisal. At each location, he worked with CDPS members to document and appraise the electronic equipment, facility contents, and, if the building is owned by CDPS, the building itself.

The project, which Gietl began in May 2014 and completed in December 2016, ensures that CDPS and the State Risk Management office have accurate documentation of CDPS assets for insurance purposes. Gietl embarked on the project after the devastating floods of 2013 underscored the importance of having accurate asset documentation in preparation for catastrophic losses such as those caused by floods, tornadoes and fires. Read More About Ed and His Project
DFPC Trains Statewide Fire Officers
O n Feb. 1, firefighters from across the state gathered in Grand Junction for the Fire Officer I training provided by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Participants engaged in various exercises, activities and lectures. The candidates also had to complete an accident investigation involving a simulated strike by a fire department vehicle into a post. 

Candidates must successfully complete 15 Job Performance Requirements to be eligible to sit for the written Fire Officer I certification exam. A total of 21 firefighters attended the training. 

Pictured here:  A communication exercise in which the blindfolded participants had to form a perfect square using a 150-foot section of rope.
DCJ Expert Testifies in Front of House Congressional Committee
On Feb. 15, Meg Williams testified about juvenile justice reform before a Congressional committee in Washington, D.C.

Meg is the manager of the Office of Adult and Juvenile Justice Assistance within the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ). She spoke to the  House Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education. During her remarks, Meg outlined the core requirements of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and noted that the Act remains critical to our youth and communities.
 
In 2016, the House passed a bill that would have reauthorized the JJDPA. Similar legislation did not make it through the Senate.The JJDPA will likely be considered for reauthorization by this Congress. 

"I have painted for you a picture showing that, at least in Colorado, we have been doing fairly well, or at least making positive strides in many areas, and you are likely wondering, 'well, do you still need the JJDP Act? Do you still need support from the federal government?' I am here to say that the answer is vehemently yes," Williams said during her testimony in favor of reauthorization of the Act.

Watch Her Testimony to Congress ! (Starting at 10 minute mark)

Shift to New Credentialing System is in Full Swing Across Colorado
You may have noticed a new look to your CDPS colleague’s ID badges -- or, indeed, to your own. The Department is well on its way towards implementing badges that are standardized not only across the Department, but aligned with agencies throughout the entire state and many portions of the country. 

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM) launched the “Salamander” project in 2014 to deploy a statewide, standardized identification system for first responders and state agencies. In July 2016, we began implementing the system within CDPS. Thus far CBI, DCJ and DHSEM have reached 100% or near-complete deployment of the system; the EDO, DFPC and State Patrol are in various stages of collecting and cleaning up data in preparation for the rollout.   Read More About Progress on the New Credentialing System

CSP Works with Partners Statewide to Save Lives Through Move Over Law
The Colorado State Patrol partnered with the Colorado Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Association, Towing and Recovery Professionals of Colorado and multiple local law enforcement agencies in February to promote awareness of a simple law that can save lives: The "Move Over"  Law.

The law requires motorists to move over or significantly slow down when passing roadside responders. It's been a law for more than 10 years in Colorado and, as you'll see in this video, there is some form of the law in all 50 states. As part of the Move Over awareness campaign, the State Patrol joined a Feb. 7 news conference, increased enforcement of the law, and released this effectively snarky video
CBI Commemorates Colorado Missing Persons Day
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation joined state elected officials and a score of local families on the steps of the state capitol on Feb. 3 to commemorate Colorado Missing Persons Day. 

The event honored the more than 400 individuals currently missing for more than a year in the State of Colorado.

CBI Director Michael Rankin spoke at the gathering, which was one of a series of events held that morning. More About Colorado Missing Persons Day
Program Brings Kids & Cops Together to Build Relationships, Reduce Conflict
A promising new program is bringing Denver Police and local youth together to build relationships and trust and to decrease potential conflict.

"Bridging the Gap: Kids and Cops" is a program being implemented by the Office of the Independent Monitor through a grant from the Justice Assistance Grant Program administered by the Division of Criminal Justice’s Office of Adult and Juvenile Justice Assistance.

The project consists of two parts: training and relationship building. First, Denver Police officers complete an 8-hour training curriculum addressing youth development, disproportionate minority contact, and de-escalation techniques. The second part consists of a five-hour forum that brings young people and law enforcement together to train, engage and interact. The goal: to establish better relationships -- or at least respect -- among the two groups. More About the Kids and Cops Program

DHSEM Launches Tool to Mobilize Private-Sector Resources During Disasters
Not that long ago, emergency managers looking for a service or resource to meet a specific community need in the wake of a disaster -- generators or roll-off dumpsters, say -- found themselves essentially cold-calling businesses hoping to find someone who could meet the need. Public business listings typically provided phone numbers that are answered only during regular business hours, potentially delaying the ability of responders to quickly respond to disaster-related needs.

On Feb. 28, DHSEM and the Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership (CEPP) will debut a new platform to help better connect local communities with business-sector resources during disasters. The new platform is an online database called CO-ASSIST, and DHSEM Logistics staff hope it will help speed the connection between private and public sector during disasters.  Learn More about CO-ASSIST
Better, Faster, Safer...
Checklists are a great way to keep track of tasks and priorities; they serve as a visual reminder of what we deem to be important to focus on during our day. 

They don't just have to be about what you want to get done -- here's a helpful checklist for how to get things done in an emotionally intelligent way. Attempt to check off as many items as possible throughout the day, such as:
  • I did not become defensive when criticized
  • I tried to see things from my coworker's perspective
  • I asked when I didn't understand something
  • I set realistic expectations...
 
Do you have ideas for good-news stories, events, "People on the Move", or other content to share with all CDPS employees? Submit your story ideas, details and photos by the 10th of the month to your Division PIO or to Patricia.Billinger@state.co.us.