City Testimonials: "I hope that you have received 500 calls saying THANK YOU for the new playground at Bonforte Park! It is a terrific neighborhood park and we so appreciate the improvements. I walk by every day and see so many children and parents enjoying themselves." -Citizen Comment "The crew from Engine 15A were professional, knowledgeable, courteous, and extremely helpful, not only did this group of professionals represent the Fire Department in a positive light, they also speak to a city government that is responsive and courteous to the public."- Citizen Comment "We've found with projects we're doing, the City seems to be as proactive as they possibly can be." -Real Estate CEO "Grateful for the progress made by CSPD to curb shoplifting." -Business Loss Prevention Manager "Not only was my concern addressed in a professional and timely manner, but Finance Planning & Analysis Manager Leslie Hickey took the time to let me know that changes were on the way. This is the direct opposite of some folks' perception of local government." -Citizen Comment "Thank you very much for fixing the potholes on the round about for Squirrel Tail and Brainard as well as the divot by the water outlet on Squirrel Tail towards Musgrave. Thank you, thank you, thank you!" -Citizen Comment "Accounts Payable Supervisor Patti McFarland was true to her word, she called me back within days to give a status report. Then she called again to update me. Then, she called today to let me know she had been able to contact the unreachable tow company, received an invoice, and would be reimbursing the portion the business manager agreed to pay! I know that it was a sustained effort because I tried for several months and got nowhere. I can't express my overwhelming gratitude to Patti and your office for their work in this matter. We run a service-based business and try to learn from other organizations whenever we can. I will bring up this instance at our weekly meeting as an example of good service to be commended and followed.Thanks to you and Patti for the surprisingly positive experience I had with your office." -Local Small Business Owner "Thanks to Traffic Technician Pete Doyle, his community attitude to work with the residents is commendable. Thank you once again." -Citizen Comment "Streets Operations Manager Bard Lower has provided me superb customer service, above and beyond what could reasonably be expected. I know that this has been a priority for your administration, and I felt it important to let you know that it is working. Mr. Lower and his associates deserve kudos for their proactive, thorough handling of this five-year-old snow plowing issue and I am grateful to you as well for making the City more responsive to citizen requests." -Citizen Comment "As a new resident of Colorado Springs, it’s apparent that the City really does excel in taking care of its residents and treats its citizens more like neighbors and friends than just customers on a long “to-do” list. Thank you for all your exceptional service." -Citizen Comment

What Newly Promoted Officers Say about Serving Colorado Springs

May 8, 2012 By
While formal fanfare has died down a bit since Mayor Bach swore in eight from the CSPD, the pride they feel about helping people in the Colorado Springs community continues to grow.

In their own words, here are a few comments from some of those public safety leaders. If you support them, then please share this post and thank them for their service when you see them at work.

Q: Can you tell us how you feel about your work and the impact of your recent promotion?

“I am very excited to be afforded this opportunity. It is a real honor and I must give credit to the fine people that I work for, the people I work with, and those that work for me. They are the ones that helped me get here. I will be staying at the Gold Hill Division and I have already begun to establish strong working relationships with a variety of community members. There is a real passion about the quality of life in the neighborhoods that the Gold Hill Division services and I hope to be a part of making it an even better place to live by ensuring that public safety needs are met. I understand that the Colorado Springs Police Department is very reliant on the strong support we receive from the citizens in the community. I want to continue to build this support and trust. I am a native of Colorado Springs and I can’t imagine a better place to live!” –Commander Pat Rigdon

“I am extremely excited to serve in my new capacity as a lieutenant for the Colorado Springs Police Department.  Even though I have taken on a new rank one of my main goals is to remember I am a public servant first and foremost.  I received excellent advice in the past regarding leadership decisions:  Take care of your people but remember the needs of our community come before the needs of our department, the needs of our department come before the needs of our unit and the needs of our unit come before our individual needs.  I plan on following this advice to the best of my ability.”  –Lieutenant Hugh M. Velasquez

“As a Deputy Chief on the Colorado Springs Police Department, I look forward to serving our community as well as the men and women on our Department. I hope I can make thoughtful and informed decisions that will positively impact our employees.  I will continue to support our mission of providing police services with integrity and with the spirit of excellence, in partnership with our community, to promote the quality of life in Colorado Springs.  I will diligently work toward fulfilling our vision statement of ‘Safeguarding our Community as our Family.’  We all look forward to the bright future we have with Chief Carey and Mayor Bach.”  –Deputy Chief Vince Niski

“I am truly honored to be able to continue to serve our community in my new capacity. I look forward to learning the new responsibilities associated with my position while still being able to work with officers on the street. Having been fortunate to work for some truly great leaders on our department, I hope that I can come close to being able to lead as they have. We live in a great city and a great area and I hope to do my part to keep it as safe as possible.” –Sergeant Rick Bubacz

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Filed Under: Community Relations, Employee Relations, Leadership, Public Safety Tagged With: , ,

CAPS Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

April 30, 2012 By

Hundreds of public safety volunteers were honored for their public safety service, including the surprise announcement and presentation of our Community Advancing Public Safety {CAPS} Volunteer of the Year award.

CAPS - Community Advancing Public Safety“We need more people like you.  I thank you for all you do! God bless you,” said Mayor Bach.

“The workforce is extraordinary,” said Police Chief Pete Carey. Carey went on to explain how volunteer work in the Violent Crimes unit alone saved “$30,000 in non-compensated service.  There is nothing more satisfying than that.”

CAPS Administrator Jean Kraus said, “[This is a] dynamic year of new ideas.  You are the rock solid foundations CAPS is built on.”  CAPS Volunteers logged 49,000 total hours in 2011.  Using a national figure of $21.62 per hour, these volunteers had an impact of over $1,000,000 in volunteer service to the city.

But let’s talk IMPACT for a minute…what do those 49,000 hours mean for our community?

It means…

  • Protecting victims rights:  in 2011 volunteers assisted over 4,000 victims of crime, with nearly 3,000 of those within the first 72 hrs
  • Citizens getting involved:The PD Citizens Academy is:
    • volunteer-led under the supervision of Officer Rob Campbell
    • in its 6th session
    • with over 100 citizen alumni
    • and has a registration waiting list – sign up for fall!
  • A good quality of life:  The Fire Dept Medical division is offering free 1st Aid/CPR training exclusively to CAPS volunteers, so we have more neighbors helping neighbors in times of emergency.
  • Raising the bar on customer service:  The police dept’s Records & ID unit increased their volunteers by 50% (22), to improve service to the public for non-criminal fingerprinting needs.
  • Planning ahead:  Volunteers Mike and Jerry spearheaded a draft Debris Management Plan to be used in the event of a natural disaster. This complex plan coordinates city agencies, state and federal resources. An estimated contractor cost for this plan…near $100,000.

And the list goes on.  Thank you, thank you to each and every one of you.

Dennis Moore is Recognized as the CAPS Volunteer of the Year

CAPS Volunteer of the Year Dennis Moore

Congratulations to CAPS Volunteer of the Year, Dennis Moore. For leadership, impact and service going above and beyond, Dennis has demonstrated in his role of block captain (since 1991) that he is a most worthy recipient. Thanks to Mr. Moore for his dedicated service.

Visit the CAPS site if you would like to learn more about CAPS, or if you would like to volunteer, you may submit an online application.

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Filed Under: Community Relations, Mayor Bach News, Police, Public Safety Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Mayor Bach Commends Police Foundation for Life-Saving Donation

April 25, 2012 By

Colorado Springs Mayor, Steve Bach, commends the Police Foundation for a life-saving donation. He will share his appreciation at the CSPD Police Operations Center on 705 S Nevada Ave, at 3:00 pm.

Police officers and deputies will receive medical trauma kits that will give local law enforcement professionals access to supplies to help them treat a traumatic injury, such as controlling bleeding, until medical help arrives on scene. “Equipping our officers with this kit will allow them to treat citizens, their partners or themselves when time is of the essence and emergency medical service is either immediately unavailable or if the scene is unsafe for them to enter,” said Police Chief Pete Carey.

All of the law enforcement professionals receiving kits will be trained on the proper use of the kit’s contents, which include a combat tourniquet, a blood clotting agent and a chest seal, in addition to other trauma supplies.

 Medical Trauma Kit Donation

Over 700 kits will be donated to the police department and sheriff’s office in 2012 and 2013, purchased with funds donated to Police Foundation of Colorado Springs by the Denver-based Anschutz Foundation. A portion of the funding also came from El Paso County Emergency Services Agency.

“Police Foundation of Colorado Springs is honored to provide these trauma kits to the law enforcement professionals serving and protecting Colorado Springs and El Paso County,” said Kyle Hybl, PFCS chairman and president.

The medical trauma kits will be distributed to officers and deputies as they complete training on the proper use of the kit’s contents. Each kit costs $86.17 and were purchased from Rescue Essentials of Salida, Colo.

The Police Foundation of Colorado Springs was formed to build effective partnerships that support the Colorado Springs Police Department and our local community.  To learn more about the Foundation and its mission and purpose, or to make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation, visit www.policefoundationofcoloradosprings.org.

Medical Trauma Kit (Tactical Trauma Kit) Contents:

  • Combat Application Tourniquet
  • CELOX-35 GRAM Pouch (Blood clotting solution)
  • Israeli Emergency Bandage – 4”
  • Asherman Chest Seal
  • EMT Shears, 5.5”
  • Compressed Gauze 4.5” x 4.1 yards
  • Combat Medic Reinforcement Tape 2” x 100
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Filed Under: Mayor Bach News, Press Releases, Public Safety Tagged With: , ,

Mayor Bach Promotes Eight From Colorado Springs Police Department

April 13, 2012 By

There couldn’t have been a more beautiful setting in which to hold a promotion ceremony for Colorado Springs finest. In the Garden Pavilion behind the historic Penrose House, Mayor Bach swore in eight officers to their new positions. It was an important occasion and also a joyful one! 

 Those promoted include: Deputy Chief Vince Niski, Deputy Chief Mark Smith, Commander Pat Rigdon, Commander Kirk Wilson, Lieutenant Bob Weber, Lieutenant Mike Velasquez, Sergeant Joe Matiatos and Sergeant Patrick Bubacz.

Chief Pete Carey stressed the importance of the work being done by all public safety officers, as well as those who were promoted.

Mayor Bach agreed. “We are so proud of our police force as well as the sworn officers being promoted here today. The City thanks you and our citizens thank you for your service. You help make Colorado Springs the kind of city where people want to live and do business.”

Family members were also proud to see loved ones rewarded for their hard work.

 

Thanks to those who wear the uniform and their families who support them in their service to the Colorado Springs community!

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COMMENTS:

Commander Pat Rigdon said, “I am very excited to be afforded this opportunity. It is a real honor and I must give credit to the fine people that I work for, the people I work with, and those that work for me. They are the ones that helped me get here. I will be staying at the Gold Hill Division and I have already begun to establish strong working relationships with a variety of community members. There is a real passion about the quality of life in the neighborhoods that the Gold Hill Division services and I hope to be a part of making it an even better place to live by ensuring that public safety needs are met. I understand that the Colorado Springs Police Department is very reliant on the strong support we receive from the citizens in the community. I want to continue to build this support and trust. I am a native of Colorado Springs and I can’t imagine a better place to live!”

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Filed Under: Employee Relations, Leadership, Mayor Bach News, Public Safety Tagged With: , ,

Volunteers Drive Community Advancing Public Safety

April 6, 2012 By

Colorado Springs is a beautiful community with a very active volunteer population who generously invest their time and heart into a city they love.

 One of the fastest growing volunteer groups are those who support public safety organizations - police and fire.  The Community Advancing Public Safety (CAPS) is a new partnership between citizens and the city’s public safety guardians of police and fire.

The CAPS mission is to enhance quality of life through volunteer public safety services to the community and they do it quite well!

In 2011, the CAPS Program grew to almost 450 public safety volunteers supporting police and fire departments, a 25% increase in volunteers over the year prior. During that time, those volunteers dedicated over 48,000 service hours through the following programs:

Downtown Ambassador Program: Volunteers strolled throughout the downtown area, providing customer service to guests and merchants during the 2011 holiday shopping season. They served as extra eyes and ears for public safety.

Phase II of the program is planned for the summer months. Ambassadors are assisting with gathering business emergency contact information for the city’s 9-1-1 Communications Center, so it is readily available in case of an emergency.

Wildfire Mitigation: Volunteers have also managed the Chipping Program where they removed over 300 tons of slash mulch from 100 acres in 2011 in an attempt to mitigate fire danger. Over 1700 homes participated in this program across the city.

 

The Neighborhood Watch Program. This is a community-police crime prevention partnership. It’s led by a volunteer and under supervision of the city’s Crime Prevention Officers with over 800 block captains participating.

 

Victim Advocacy Unit: The Colorado Springs Police Department’s Victim Advocacy Unit assists victims of crime by providing immediate crisis intervention, follow-up support and information on victim rights and community resources. Over 20 volunteers are attending CSPD’s new 10 week Victim Advocacy Training Academy, expanding the previous volunteer base to provide a broader support to victims.

Want to get involved?

  • Join CAPS by visiting SpringsCAPS.org  and find the online volunteer application link
  • Sign up for a citizen ride-along with either the Fire Department or Police Department. There is no waiting, with 20 fire stations and four police stations from which to choose.
  • Register for the CSPD’s Citizen’s Academy, an 11-week series of informative sessions at a variety of locations that give an inside look at police operations.

Colorado Springs is fortunate to have so many civic-minded citizens willing to get involved. Stay tuned for more stories in the future on community members who are help to make things better – and safer – all around the town!

 

 

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Filed Under: Community Relations, Mayor Bach News, Public Safety Tagged With: , , , ,
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