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Greenwood Village Newsletter - April 2021

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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>

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