July 30, 2015 VOLUME 120 | ISSUE 26 | 75¢
ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
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NEWS IN A HURRY Book sale is back The annual Friends of the Elizabeth Library book sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 30 through Aug. 1 at the library. Thousands of books, including fiction, nonfiction and children’s books in both hardcover and paperback, will be available. The book sale is the major fundraiser for the Friends of the Elizabeth Library and all proceeds are used to support the programs, collection and facilities at the library. For more information, call the library at 303-646-3416.
Football camp coming up Learn more about football at the 15th annual Cardinal Football Camp. The camp is open to all second- through 12th-graders and is hosted by the Elizabeth High School football staff and senior football players. Aug. 3-6 is for grades two through five, from 4 to 5 p.m., and grades six through eight, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10-13 is for grades nine through 12 from 4 to 6 p.m. The cost is $40 per athlete and includes a T-shirt. For more information or to register, go to www. elizabeth.k12.co.us Briefs continues on Page 7
Elizabeth Police Chief Steve Hasler has been a police officer for 38 years. He was previously the police chief for Erie and Lone Tree. Photo by Ben Wiebesiek
A worldly view of law enforcement
Q&A with Elizabeth Police Chief Steve Hasler: Part 1 By Ben Wiebesiek
bwiebesiek@colorado communitymedia.com
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ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)
OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE T HI S C OPY
Elizabeth Police Chief Steve Hasler has a unique perspective on law enforcement from his time as a detective with the Hertfordshire Constabulary in England. From this experience, he learned to emphasize a guardian mentality over a warrior mentality toward the public, which was the
philosophy he carried over to being police chief in Erie and Lone Tree before joining the Elizabeth Police in November 2014. In the first of a two-part discussion with the Elbert County News, he talks about how community policing has practical applications for making communities safer on both side of “the pond.” The mission of the Elizabeth Police Department is: “To maintain a small town atmosphere, while encouraging community pride and responsible economic growth.” What is the role the police play in
economic development? I’m on the board of the Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce and I say all the time to them, public safety and economic development are well tied together because when you’re going to invest in a community, whether it’s residential or a business, the first thing you’re going to do is ask, “What’s the crime rate there? Is that somewhere I want to bring my children? Is that where I want my family to be?” People do not want to move into a high-crime area, obviously. We really want to keep our crime rate low because we understand that affects Eliza-
beth, that affects the ability of Elizabeth to attract commerce, industry, residents, all the rest of it. To retain that small-town feeling of policing, we have to accomplish keeping the crime rate down, doing our job in a matter where people feel comfortable. That’s the Peelian Principles. Sir Robert Peele is the founder of modern community policing back in 1829. When he passed the Metropolitan Police Act, which formed the Metropolitan Police in London – Scotland Yard, as it’s Hasler continues on Page 7
Recreation coming to reservoir
Public access to RueterHess will follow master-plan process By Chris Michlewicz
cmichlewicz@colorado communitymedia.com The long wait for public access to Rueter-Hess Reservoir is almost over. It was more than 10 years ago that Parker Water and Sanitation District customers overwhelmingly approved a $100 million bond issue to fund the construction of the reservoir on Parker’s western edge. An original plan to build a reservoir with the capacity for 16,000 acre-feet of water was expanded to 75,000 acre-feet when the water district found local partners in 2008. Ron Redd, district manager for Parker Water, said a recent analysis revealed that the excavation of dirt and rock to build the dam added another 3,000 acre-feet of storage space. The opening of the Hess Road connection to I-25 allowed more residents to see for the first time Dam continues on Page 4
Ron Redd, center, leads a tour of Rueter-Hess Reservoir for Douglas county dignitaries June 30. Photo by Chris Michlewicz