Voice
LONE TREE 2.14.13
Lone Tree
Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 12, Issue 5
TRYING HIS LUCK
February 14, 2013
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlonetreenews.com
Lone Tree chooses new chief Police get new leader from Lakewood By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com
Ethan Osborne, 2, checks out the giant die and stacking cups Feb. 9 during the second annual Kids Expo at the Lone Tree Recreation Center. Hands-on activities, giveaways and vendor information were available to kids and their parents. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen
Safety classes go beyond self-defense Seminars for girls, women also focus on thinking By Jane Reuter
jreuter@ourcoloradonews.com Lone Tree Councilmember Jackie Millet was robbed at gunpoint 20 years ago. After she took former Lone Tree Police Office Nicole Sundine’s safety class, she believes she could have prevented the incident. Sundine, who will teach three safety seminars in Lone Tree later this month, taught Millet to evaluate and plan a response for such threatening situations. “We were not paying attention to our circumstances,” Millet remembered. “Where we parked the car was really dark. When the kids (who robbed us) started walking up to us, we could have crossed the street. There were certain things we could have done to avoid it.” Millet learned so much from the seminar she’s taking it again this month, this time with her 13-year-old daughter. The three free seminars are all at 6 p.m., on Feb. 21, 26 and 28, at the Lone Tree Arts Center. The Feb. 26 class is for parents only, while the other two are open to girls older than 12 and women. Sundine now lives in Virginia and is flying back to teach the city-sponsored classes, which go far beyond standard selfdefense tactics. “The interpersonal is a huge part I really think is lacking from most personal safety classes,” she said. “These are things women have been taught and things they haven’t: How we allow people to treat us, how we stop people from engaging in unwanted behavior, (taking) nonverbal cues as well as verbal.” Most women likely can’t win a fight with a man because of physical disparities, she said, but that doesn’t mean they’re helpless. “We’re talking about doing whatever it takes to break free or get away,” she said. “Women do have the ability to do that, and that does not have anything to do with size or strength.”
Lakewood Police Cmdr. Jeffrey Streeter will be Lone Tree’s new police chief. He starts March 4 with an annual salary of $118,000. Streeter was one of six candidates for the position, all but one of them from the Denver area. “We went through an extensive process, including interviews by three panels that represented the community, a peer group from law enforcement and senior city staff,” said Lone Tree City Manager Jack HiStreeter dahl, who made the decision to hire Streeter. “He was top-rated by all three. And I concurred with their judgment. He’s the guy to move the police department forward.” He will be Lone Tree’s second police chief, stepping into the seat vacated in August 2012. Steve Hasler, who came to the city in 2004 to help launch the department, was terminated without cause by Hidahl. Streeter has a record of stability, working 24 years for the Lakewood Police Department in various positions. Lone Tree has a strong focus on community policing, and Hidahl said Streeter appears well-qualified to keep that approach going. Community policing includes the creation of partnerships with area organizations and using a proactive, problemsolving approach. Currently, Streeter oversees the Lakewood police department’s professional standards section, and has direct supervision for internal affairs, the police training academy, recruitment and national accreditation. He graduated from Metropolitan State College in Denver with a criminal justice/ police science and sociology degree. Lone Tree incorporated in 1995, contracting its police services with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office until 2004.
C-470 panel turns to tolls
Committee’s unanimous vote narrows expansion focus By Ryan Boldrey
rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com
Councilmember Jackie Millet helps demonstrate how to break a hold with instructor and former Lone Tree Police Officer Nicole Sundine during a previous safety class. Courtesy photo First, a woman must know how to take action. “One of the biggest things women fear is they’re going to freeze,” Sundine said. “I have specific techniques I teach them to help them overcome that freeze response. If I teach them how to strike, punch and break free when they need to, it’s only going to help them if they’re psychologically prepared to do that.” Millet came away with Sundine’s seminar with insights that can be used in many situations. “You have to know what you’re going to do when you’re put in a position where
you’re uncomfortable,” she said. “Anytime anybody is trying to rush you into a decision sooner than you’re ready, they’re trying to control you. Slow down, and figure out what’s in your best interest.” And listen to feminine intuition. “If it doesn’t feel right, then change what you’re doing,” Millet said. “Girls are taught to be nice or not make anybody else uncomfortable. When an elevator door opens, and you don’t feel comfortable getting in with a man, there’s nothing wrong with letting the door close.” For more information, visit the city’s website at www.cityoflonetree.com.
Like traffic at the end of rush hour, the future of C-470 appears to be clearing up. On Feb. 7, the C-470 Corridor Coalition Steering Committee — made up of representatives from Douglas, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties as well as the Highlands Ranch Metro District and cities of Littleton, Lone Tree and Centennial — voted 7-0 to toll any new lanes along the 13-mile stretch between Interstate 25 and Kipling Street. C-470 continues on Page 9
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