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

Dear CDPS members,
In the fall, we planted the seeds of a brand new venture here at CDPS: the Leadership Strategies Institute (LSI). The idea was to bring together formal and informal leaders from throughout our department so that they can learn, collaborate, innovate and implement solutions within an environment of shared CDPS values and goals. This group of leaders has been working to make positive shifts in CDPS culture and to improve employee engagement. Each divisional team has formulated action plans, and soon you will start to see aspects of those plans being implemented –  in fact, maybe you already have noticed some changes as our leaders work to increase two-way communication, improve how we manage change, and roll out proven methods for achieving efficiencies. 

Cultural change and employee engagement aren’t short-term projects; like tending a garden, it takes time, effort and ongoing commitment to nurture a healthy workplace culture and to maintain employee engagement. While the first cohort of LSI participants continues to implement their plans, we are already preparing for the next cohort of leaders to join the effort and carry it forward. In April, you will see a call for applications for the second Leadership Strategies Institute. I encourage all of you to be part of this department-wide effort, whether by applying to the Institute, supporting your employees who wish to join, or participating in the employee engagement efforts being led by your division’s LSI team members. 

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to the hard-working LSI team members who are dedicated to making CDPS a place where engaged employees work together to make Colorado safer. 

– Executive Director Stan Hilkey
Calendar

Training

A Special Focus on Prevention & Awareness
April is sexual assault awareness and prevention month nationwide, as well as national child abuse prevention month.  In this issue of the Public Safety Post you'll see several events related to these important topics. Although we focus on these issues in April, numerous members of CDPS work year-round to prevent, respond to, help victims of, or investigate cases of sexual assault or child abuse. You can wear blue in April to show your support and read on to learn how you can help raise awareness. 
Colorado Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Crime Victims Rights Amendment
National Crime Victim Rights week is April 3-10. The Division of Criminal Justice Office for Victims Programs will join the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA) and numerous other victim's services organizations in a special Crime Victim Rights Week Event on Monday, April 3. 

The event will celebrate 25 years of the Colorado Victim Rights Amendment, a landmark amendment that describes the rights that all victims of crime are entitled to in Colorado. 

Coni Sanders, the daughter of Dave Sanders, who lost this life in the Columbine High School shooting, will speak. A moment of silence will conclude the event. Find out more about the event by scrolling to the events calendar listing on the COVA  events page.
Child Abuse Prevention Month Launches on April 4 
What are those blue pinwheels you see decorating lawns, brightening offices and showing up as pins on clothing? The pinwheels serve to raise awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.

CDPS will be raising awareness through events and by "planting" a pinwheel garden purchased from the Ralston House, a local nonprofit child advocacy center.  You can help raise funds for this effort and enjoy a tasty treat by purchasing a breakfast burrito from 8:30-10 a.m. on April 4 in the first floor breakroom of 690 Kipling St. CDPS volunteers are cooking the burritos, which sell for $3 each (additional donations accepted). To guarantee a burrito, pre-order yours by COB on 3/30 by emailing Rhonda.Johnson@state.co.us.

The Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC) and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation encourage you to wear blue on April 4 and take a moment to learn about child abuse prevention. Additionally, many CDPS members may be considered mandatory reporters under Colorado law. Watch this quick video below for a message from CSSRC Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Specialist Margaret Ochoa about Child Abuse Prevention Month and special tips for mandatory reporting. 

CDPS Helps Communities Affected by Multiple Fires in March
The State Emergency Operations Center activated on March 6, 7 and 8 in support of the emergency response to grass fires burning in Logan and Phillips counties. DHSEM and DFPC field staff mobilized to help on the ground and from the air, while DHSEM staff also provided remote support from the state EOC. With four structures and numerous livestock lost to the fire, the Governor issued a disaster declaration and DHSEM's recovery team stepped up to lead state recovery efforts.

CDPS fire and emergency management personnel activated again for the Sunshine Fire in Boulder County on March 20. This included a fire strike team (pictured above), experts in the EOC, and a crew providing information from the multi-mission aircraft. And finally, DFPC crews also supported the Deer Creek and North Turkey Creek fires, which fortunately were contained quickly. 

CDPS Executive Director Hilkey, DFPC Director Michael Morgan and DHSEM Director Kevin Klein will provide an update on Colorado's 2017 wildfire outlook during the Governor's wildfire briefing on April 14.
Trooper Goes Above and Beyond to Help, Comfort Motorist Suffering Emergency
Trooper Eric Carlton was recently recognized in local media for his compassion, caring and willingness to go above and beyond his duties. As Trooper Carlton was traveling from Montrose to Delta in near-blizzard conditions, he spotted a vehicle on the side of the road with its hazard lights on. He pulled over to help, and quickly determined that the driver was suffering a medical emergency. He called in her location, then stayed with her to calm her, comfort her, and support her head and neck during seizures. 

“He was so compassionate and just so caring. He went back to the hospital a couple of times, made sure everything was all right,” the driver told the Montrose Daily Press. “He went above and beyond his job... If it wouldn't have been for that highway patrolman, who knows where I would be right now.”
Snapshots
Emergency Management Conference 
The 2017 Emergency Management Conference Feb. 28-March 2 drew more than 400 attendees and featured more than two dozen expert presenters on a variety of emergency management topics.

If you were unable to attend, missed a presentation, or would like to review one of the presentations you attended, DHSEM has posted copies of most of the conference presentations on the DHSEM web site.
Unmanned Aerial Systems Summit
The Small Unmanned Aerial Systems in Public Safety Summit was co-hosted by the Center of Excellence for Advanced Technology Aerial Firefighting and the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation on March 15 and 16. The Summit had 120 participants, 10 speakers, 2 panel discussions, 14 exhibitors and 8 sUAS demonstrations with participation from public safety practitioners.
CBI CALEA Assessment Under Way
CBI invited agencies, members of the community and Bureau employees to offer comments at a public hearing on March 13 as part of the agency's CALEA re-accreditation process. 

An assessment team began examining all aspects of CBI on March 12. Verification by the assessment team that the CBI meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The CBI received its initial accreditation in July 2014. The CBI must comply with 189 standards to continue the current CALEA accreditation status.
A Message of Gratitude
Sienna Collins, 8, lives close to the area that was impacted by the Sunshine Fire on March 20. Sienna took the time to handwrite –  and draw –  a thank-you card to express her appreciation to all of the first responders who helped when the fire broke out.  

"She was pretty worried last week during the fire," said the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, who received her thank-you card and shared it with the many agencies that responded to the fire.

The card says, "Thank you for working so hard to keep Colorado safe. I appreciate it and I think a lot of other people do too. I'm glad to have you guys."
EPIC: Using Best Practices to Help Reduce Recidivism
The Division of Criminal Justice's EPIC Resource Center was recently featured by the National Criminal Justice Association. EPIC stands for Evidence-Based Practices Implementation for Capacity, but what it means is this: using proven best practices to help criminal justice agencies be more effective and, ultimately, reduce recidivism. 
HR Updates

HR will offer webinars on Kronos "Tips,Tricks and Shortcuts," including:
  • Time off
  • Approvals
  • Overtime
April 11 - 9-10 a.m.
April 20 -  2-3 p.m. 

The webinars are open to all employees. To enroll, email cdps_hr@state.co.us. You will receive a  link and call-in number the night before the webinar.  

~ ~ ~

Benefits open enrollment is April 25-May 18. 
You do not need to take any action unless you wish to make changes. HR will provide more information and links in April.
Finance Updates

As the end of the fiscal year approaches, procurement reminds everyone of the following deadlines to submit procurement packages to ensure your purchasing needs can be met:  

April 3 - Services worth $5K-$25K
April 10 - Goods worth $150K+
May 29 - Goods worth $10K-$150K
June 12 - Goods worth $5K-$10K
June 23 - Last day to make P-card purchases

CONTACT PROCUREMENT for any of the following:
  • Services over $25K in value
  • Construction
  • Leases
  • Vendor agreements, MOUs
  • Purchase orders/contracts with a July 1 start date. 
Better, Faster, Safer...
Dealing with the Angry Customer
Many of us deal with members  the public at high-stress points in their lives. In fact, because of this, many CDPS members have taken in-depth training in de-escalation and other techniques. 

Regardless of whether you're highly trained in dealing with difficult people or you would have no idea what to do when facing an angry customer, this article on Responding to the Angry Customer is a good, quick read with helpful tips. 

April DPA-Offered Courses
Agency Controller Pre-Delegation -- 1-4 p.m.,  April 13. This class is required prior to receiving a controller signature delegation from the State Controller, but it can also be beneficial for anyone who wants to learn what their controller delegate looks for when signing a contract -  Registration Link

Statutory Violations -- 10-11 a.m., April 19.  This class is available for anyone who has had a Statutory Violation or wants to learn how not to have one -  Registration Link

All classes will be held in the DPA Conference Center at 1525 Sherman Street.
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.