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Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office The Detail Newsletter - JUNE 2021

REX IS SWORN IN FOR SERVICE

He's only 10-weeks old, but Rex is ready to get to work! With his right paw raised, Sheriff Tyler Brown officially swore the little black puppy into office. Rex is the ACSO's first therapy dog, to be assigned to all the Littleton Elementary Schools within Arapahoe County, along with his handler, School Resource Officer Deputy John Gray.

SRO Deputy John Gray and Rex
"We are thrilled to have Rex in the elementary schools this fall. We really hope it will help students feel more comfortable and safe in school and of course bring a smile to their face," says Deputy Gray.
Rex looks up at Sheriff Brown as he becomes the newest member of the school resource unit.

The little black lab is already stealing hearts. Deputy Gray says Rex's sweet disposition is going to make for an excellent comfort dog.

"Rex will work with students with special needs, help kids in times of crisis and stress and also comfort those with anxiety and depression. I have a feeling he'll be great at his job," says Gray.

Over the next year, Rex will undergo training in basic obedience. When he turns one, he'll attend an AKC (American Kennel Club) good citizen class to become an AKC Certified Therapy Dog.

Watch the news coverage on FOX31 and CBS4 Denver.

Follow Rex on social media

K-9 ROMAN SURVIVES DEADLY ILLNESS

"This was truly a miracle. This illness is a death sentence for dogs," says Deputy Ty Zimmerman, Roman's handler.

When we asked our social media followers to pray for K-9 Roman, we knew he was in bad shape. We just didn't know how bad.

"Most dogs with this condition don't even make it to surgery, and if they do, they don't survive, let alone make it all the way through recovery. Roman's surgeon told me she has never had a dog live through this in all her years as a vet," says Zimmerman.

The story began on May 5 at 10:45pm. K-9 Roman, who had just taken down an armed murder suspect with the SWAT team, began vomiting large amounts of blood. His handler, Deputy Ty Zimmerman rushed him to the vet where he was whisked into surgery with an ER team waiting at the door. Roman had a twisted intestine and colon.

Deputy Zimmerman helps out as Roman is prepped for surgery

With the highly-trained skills of the surgeon, anesthesiologist and ER team at VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital, Roman made it through surgery with 70% of his colon removed. The next 24 hours would prove to be critical. ICU nurse Janelle Stubbings refused to leave his side.

Nurse Janelle Stubbings checks on Roman's vitals

Roman survived Day 1. Doctors then predicted if he pulled through Days 2 to 5, he would likely make a full recovery. That's when the sheriff's office put out the call: Please pray!

Over the next week, Roman received blood transfusions, round-the-clock care and a lot of TLC. Soon, he started improving, and was able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Eight days after being rushed to the hospital, Deputy Zimmerman took Roman home. He continues to recover to this day and hopefully, will return to work soon.

"This is a dog who beat the odds and wouldn't quit. He's a fighter and a hero," says Zimmerman.
Deputy Zimmerman and Roman return home on May 13

HONORING THE FALLEN

A new Fallen Deputy Memorial was unveiled May 15, on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which honors law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Chief Jared Rowlison bows his head during a prayer at the start of the dedication

Members of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, together with the Arapahoe FOP Lodge 31, designed and built the memorial. Their vision was to have a gathering place for deputies and community members to come together and remember those we have lost. On the wall are the names of four deputies who gave their lives in service to their community. The earliest dates back to the 1880s.

Memorial wall at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
  • Gabriel B. Hollingsworth Jr. - 1887
  • Charles S. Wilcox - 1899
  • Benjamin Lee Goorman - 1945
  • Roland Oliver Lackey - 1993

The families of each deputy attended the ceremony and Sheriff Tyler Brown shared their life stories in the video below.

The new memorial and garden is located in front of the Sheriff's Office Headquarters building in Centennial.

KIDS READ TO POLICE HORSES

First graders at Red Hawk Ridge Elementary School got to test their reading skills on our horses. Our Mounted Patrol Unit visited the kids so they could read a new children's book to them called The Happy Police Horse. The book was written by Lt. Rich Anselmi and illustrated by Deputy Mateo Montoya-Collis.

Our Mounted Patrol Unit is launching a new reading-to-horses program for elementary school kids and this was the first event. The deputies and their horses will visit other schools in Arapahoe County in the coming months.

Click the button below to purchase The Happy Police Horse Book. The cost is $20. All the money raised will help pay for needed equipment for the horses.

SHRED-A-THON NETS $37K FOR CRIMESTOPPERS

The spring Shred-A-Thon proved just how generous our community is, thanks to the participation and collaboration of our volunteers and law enforcement agencies.

The event took place May 15 and brought joy, enthusiasm, and a lot of energy! There were three different sites in the metro area. All together, 3,500 cars came through and the event raised more than $37, 000, that's a 5% increase from last year. All the money raised goes to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, a non-profit which helps law enforcement agencies identify and arrest criminals through anonymous tips.

NATIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS & EMPLOYEES WEEK

In early May, we spent the week honoring the men and women at the Arapahoe County Jail who put themselves in harm's way to advance a mission of protecting the public, staff and inmates. The value that corrections staff have on providing a public service is largely unknown to most. Their job is demanding and dangerous, yet they do it with professionalism and courage.

"The work you do matters and I know how much of yourselves you put into the service you provide and how it impacts you individually. Please remember you make our communities safer and our citizens notice and appreciate what you do," Jared Rowlison, Bureau Chief Detentions.

THE AMERICAN DREAM

Last month, we told you about one of our deputies from Ukraine who immigrated to the United States five years ago after winning the green card lottery. Deputy Olha Orlova had an extremely rough life in her native country. Today she is thriving, thanks in part, to her job at the sheriff's office. Rocky Mountain Public Television spent several days with Orlova to capture her very real and raw story of "The American Dream."

THANK YOU NOTES

WIN A NEW TRUCK!

The truck raffle is back again this year and it's bigger and better than ever! Just purchase a raffle ticket for $30 for your chance to win a brand new 2021 Ford F-150 SuperCrew XLT plus $15,000 in cash! All the money raised will go to Special Olympics Colorado -- a cause that's close to our hearts!

Purchase your tickets below by June 25 and you'll also be entered to win a Ford Bronco Sport or $25,000 in cash. Drawing takes place August 13.

SPOTLIGHT SHERIFF

Sheriff Tyler Brown was featured in May as the Spotlight Sheriff by the Major County Sheriffs of America, a professional law enforcement association of the 108 largest Sheriff’s offices representing counties or parishes with 500,000 population or more. Sheriff Brown spoke about the work of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office and its dedication to service to the community. Watch below.

HERE'S TO THE MOMS! On Mother's Day, we paid tribute to all the wonderful mothers in our community, including those who wear the badge. These are just a few of our 'mom' deputies who put on a uniform every day to keep you safe. Pictured L to R: Deputy Bauer, Deputy Gonzalez, Deputy Wells, Deputy Jones, Deputy Sullivan, Deputy Herrera and Deputy Johnson.