Greenwood Village Newsletter - April 2021
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
GOVERNMENT<br />
THE MAYOR’S<br />
message<br />
INCREASING CRIME AND<br />
PENDING LEGISLATION<br />
Recently, our Chief of Police brought to the<br />
City Council and my attention a significant<br />
increase in crime. The Chief and every law<br />
enforcement agency in Arapahoe and Douglas<br />
County correlated this increase to jail<br />
restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of<br />
COVID-19 in the jails. Since the restrictions<br />
were imposed, <strong>Greenwood</strong> <strong>Village</strong> has seen:<br />
• 96% Increase in Robberies<br />
• 23% Increase in Thefts<br />
• 34% Increase in Burglaries<br />
• 157% Increase in Auto Thefts<br />
George Lantz<br />
glantz@<br />
The City Council and I recently sent letters to<br />
greenwoodvillage.com<br />
303-486-5741 our state legislative representatives expressing<br />
concerns over two bills currently under<br />
consideration. The first, Senate Bill 21-62, will make<br />
permanent the temporary COVID-19 jail restrictions by<br />
prohibiting custodial arrest for crimes listed above as well as<br />
for kidnapping, assault with serious injury, and sexual<br />
assault.<br />
Our Chief of Police Dustin Varney, who has 30 years of law<br />
enforcement training and experience, has stated, “If Senate<br />
Bill SB21-062 passes, there is a strong possibility that law<br />
enforcement will have significant issues preventing or<br />
reducing the rise in crime that we are seeing metro wide,<br />
putting the future of public safety in question.” Law<br />
Enforcement agencies throughout the Denver Metro area<br />
have not only seen similar increases in crime since the jail<br />
restrictions were put in place but have also seen subjects’<br />
actions being more egregious as it became known they would<br />
not face arrest. Along with the City Council’s letter, Chief<br />
Varney and every law enforcement agency in Arapahoe and<br />
Douglas County sent a letter opposing the bill. This letter<br />
accompanied the letters from Police Chiefs and Sheriffs<br />
across the state.<br />
The second bill of concern, Senate Bill 21-182, limits school<br />
disciplinary options. This bill will prohibit schools from<br />
contacting the police for harassment, theft, menacing, assault,<br />
or possession of weapons, drugs or alcohol on school grounds<br />
or at school activities. If the police are called by a parent of a<br />
student who was victimized by another student on school<br />
grounds or at a school activity the police will be unable to act<br />
unless the student was severely injured or sexually assaulted.<br />
The intent of the bill is to keep students from entering the<br />
criminal justice system, but removing consequences for<br />
criminal behavior in the school environment can lead to an<br />
unsafe learning environment for the students, staff, and<br />
community.<br />
If you would like further information or wish to contact your<br />
State Legislative Representatives, their contact information is:<br />
Jeff.bridges.senate@state.co.us<br />
303-866-4846<br />
Meg.froelich.house@state.co.us<br />
303-866-2921<br />
To read the full text of our letters, please visit<br />
greenwoodvillage.com/2608/Legislative-Policy-Matters.<br />
MARCH <strong>2021</strong> BLIZZARD<br />
During winter storms I am always pleased and proud to<br />
return to the <strong>Village</strong>’s boundary where I know the streets will<br />
be clear. The recent blizzard was no exception. City Council<br />
and I would like to extend our appreciation to the<br />
departments and employees of Public Works; Parks, Trails and<br />
Recreation; Police; and Community Development for their<br />
efficient, professional, and quality response to the blizzard.<br />
You may be unaware how much planning and preparation go<br />
into a big snow event. In the days ahead of a storm planning<br />
meetings are held, hotel rooms are reserved for the street and<br />
trail crews, and food purchased so it may be prepared and<br />
crews fed at our Maintenance Facility. The crews inspect and<br />
repair the equipment to be utilized during a storm. Our staff<br />
is outfitted with cold-weather personal protective equipment,<br />
including snowsuits, jackets, snow boots, snow goggles,<br />
insulated gloves, hand warmers, hearing protection, and twoway<br />
radios and cell phones.<br />
As the event draws near, staff is mobilized and the snow<br />
removal equipment is loaded with sand or other material.<br />
PG. 2 GV NEWSLETTER | APRIL <strong>2021</strong>