Behind the Badge
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has a team of volunteers who are making a huge difference in law enforcement. The Community Safety Volunteers (CSV) are Douglas County residents who are trained to be invaluable assets; they work in tandem with deputies and civilian office staff to help cover many of the tasks and…
Deputy Jeff Pelle of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has law enforcement in his blood – he is a third-generation peace officer. Joe Pelle, Jeff’s dad, recently retired after 43 years of police service, including 20 years as sheriff of Boulder County. Jeff grew up in Longmont and then attended the University of Northern…
Shawn Cummings has the heart of a public servant. It is this drive and personal fulfillment that helped Cummings get where he is today. Cummings grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he cherished time with family and friends and developed a love of board and card games, a hobby he still enjoys. After…
Fire Chief Bob Baker grew up watching his father serve as a firefighter in Flint, Michigan, and the example never left him. He has devoted his life to public service – in fire rescue – just like his dad. Baker began his career in 1984, moving through the ranks and working in many capacities with…
Nursing is in Deb Miller’s blood. When she was four years old, all she wanted for Christmas was the Barbie doll that was a nurse. On Christmas morning that is exactly what Santa brought her. “Growing up, I always thought to myself, ‘it would be really cool to be a nurse,’” Miller explained. Originally from…
Mark Adams plays double duty at Rock Canyon High School. To most, he is Deputy Adams, School Resource Officer (SRO) from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). To the freshman football team, he’s also Coach Adams. Born and raised in Connecticut, Adams moved west to attend the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley after high…
Erin Loeks spends much of her time educating. She might be a familiar face to many residents because she teaches the public safety courses for the South Metro Safety Foundation (SMSF), a nonprofit that partners with South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR). SMSF specializes in providing safety classes – first aid and CPR, babysitting certifications, safe…
Einar Jensen, risk reduction specialist for South Metro Fire Rescue (SMFR), is one of five on his team, but he is probably the most familiar to Castle Pines residents because he covers Battalion 1, which serves the City of Castle Pines and The Village at Castle Pines. A mountain boy at heart, Jensen grew up…
Douglas County Search and Rescue (DCSAR) will soon add more than a dozen new fielded members. Currently DCSAR has about 50 trained volunteers. They come from many professional backgrounds, including engineering, management, sales, legal, aerospace and construction. Each year, DCSAR holds training September through May; it is rigorous work and covers a wide variety of…
By Celeste McNeil; photo courtesy of Sara Ratcliff Deputy Sara Ratcliff loves her job. She is part of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) Mounted Patrol Division (MPD). Ratcliff has always loved horses and comes from a law enforcement family, so the MPD is a perfect fit for her. “My hobbies include being outdoors and…