All Entries in the "Public Safety" Category
Colorado State Patrol Introduces Gunner – a second specially-trained canine in explosives
(Colorado) – The Colorado State Patrol is proud to introduce a new addition to its Executive Security Branch: Gunner. While the Patrol has used canines trained in narcotic detection for many years, this working canine has been specially trained in the detection of explosives, firearms, and shell casings. Gunner is joining Scout, a veteran of the […]
Meet Colorado’s hardest-working investigator trained to sniff out suspicious fires
By using her powerful nose, 16-month-old Ash gives fire investigators another way to find what sparked a fire. (Photo provided by the Division of Fire Prevention and Control) Ash, the 16-month Labrador retriever, is trained with 50% evaporated gasoline, to help firefighters pinpoint the cause of fires around the state. In her first 11 […]
Colorado’s recent lane filtering law goes into effect August 7 – what is it?
Colorado Lane Filtering vs. Lane Splitting –What’s the difference? Recently, the state of Colorado passed a lane filtering bill that will go into effect August 7, 2024. While lane splitting and filtering have long been controversial, motorcycle riders and drivers need to understand the rules going into effect to ensure a safe experience on our […]
Lamar City Council meeting of July 8, 2024
Mayor Kirk Crespin swearing in Lamar’s new Chief of Police Al Fear All Council members were present for the meeting. Mayor Kirk Crespin spoke to viewers about the presentation prior to the meeting by Sam Light of CIRSA, the city’s insurance liability company. The mayor said this is a yearly review to Council about legal […]
Colorado’s rural fire departments facing challenges – how does Lamar fare?
Lamar Fire Chief Jeremy Burkhart A recent article published by Colorado Politics discussed Colorado’s rural fire departments and the struggles they face regarding recruiting and retention challenges, as well as a growing demand for emergency medical services due to an aging population. Also mentioned was a November 2023 survey conducted by the Colorado Division of […]
Colorado Highland Helicopters testing new technology for search-and-rescue work
Colorado Highland Helicopters is testing new technology that would allow search and rescue teams in helicopters detect missing and distressed people in Colorado’s backcountry within minutes and communicate with them. During a recent test in La Plata Canyon, rescuers found two missing people within two minutes and 14 seconds, said Tim Durkin, a search and […]
State Veterinarian Issues Guidance for Dairy Cattle Exhibitions, Ag Events
Broomfield, Colo. — The Colorado State Veterinarian’s Office has issued new guidance to minimize influenza transmission at dairy cattle livestock exhibitions. Colorado is following the guidance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to encourage livestock owners and event organizers to increase biosecurity measures and actively monitor animals for signs of illness. Colorado had its first confirmed positive detection […]
Southeast Colorado Opioid Region 19 holds press conference June 12, 2024
SECOR board members and other representatives from the 9 counties comprising SECOR 19 A press conference was held June 12, 2024 at the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office by The Southeast Colorado Opioid Region 19 (SECOR) to announce 2024 funding and the new universal site for public information about resources available to fight the opioid epidemic. […]
Meeting between coroner and Prowers County Board of Commissioners June 4, 2024 gets heated
A hastily-scheduled special meeting on June 4, 2024 between the Prowers County Commissioners and Prowers County Coroner Tommy Dunagan quickly became heated. Chairman of the Commissioners, Ron Cook, opened the meeting and thanked the other 2 commissioners for attending. He opened the meeting by addressing Dunagan, asking him if he remembered their previous conversation from […]
Southeast Colorado Opioid Region 19 announces press conference
PRESS RELEASE (Crowley County, Colorado, June 5, 2024)—Today, the Board Members of Southeast Colorado Opioid Region 19 (“SECOR”) announces that they will hold a press conference on June 12, 2024 at 1:30 pm at Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services Bureau, 101 West 10th Street, Pueblo, Colorado to discuss the work they are doing […]
Hungry goats are latest phenom-nom-nom in Colorado wildfire prevention
Donny Benz, left, and his fiancé Kaiti Singley, right, with Goat Green LLC, monitor their Cashmere goats as they graze in fields in Dutch Creek Open Space in Louisville, Colorado, on May 22, 2024. As the goats eat, they create natural firebreaks that help to prevent and slow down wildfires. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The […]
Lightning strike kills northern Colorado rancher, more than 30 cattle
A truck drives through rural Jackson County, which borders Wyoming. (Kyle Spradley for KHN) A lightning strike killed a Jackson County rancher and more than 30 of his cattle Saturday afternoon as the man tossed hay from the back of a trailer, the local coroner said Sunday. Mike Morgan, 51, was feeding his herd as […]
City Council votes to begin negotiations with Chief of Police candidate Al Fear
Al Fear In a special City Council meeting Thursday, May 23, 2024, City Administrator Rob Evans recommended Al Fear as the preferred candidate for Lamar’s next Chief of Police. Per city charter, the Administrator makes a recommendation that Council then can vote to accept or decline. Councilman Joe Gonzales motioned that Council allow Evans to […]
Boating, state park, and wildlife safety tips for Memorial Day weekend
Life jackets save lives. The majority of water-related fatalities happen when people are swimming in cold water and paddle boarding or kayaking without a life jacket. DENVER—Coloradans and out-of-state visitors play an integral role in keeping Colorado state parks clean, respecting local wildlife, and making the outdoors safer to explore. Ahead of the holiday […]
As Colorado fentanyl deaths continue to rise, here’s the DEA’s new approach to combat the problem
At least 1,089 people died from fentanyl poisoning in 2023, up 18.4% from the year before, preliminary data shows As many as 7 in 10 counterfeit pills tested in 2023 contained a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, or roughly the amount that fits on the tips of a pencil, national DEA laboratory testing showed. (Photo […]
