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Hosch sentenced to six years Judge places defendant in community corrections
‘I can only hope and pray that they (Baldwin’s
By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com In a packed courtroom on Friday, Aug. 29, Kenneth Hosch, 83, of Golden, was sentenced to six years in community corrections for the death of sergeant David Baldwin after a devastating impact on Highway 93 earlier this year. Family and friends of Baldwin included many officers from the sheriff’s office as well as from neighboring police departments such as Lakewood and Arvada. Attorney’s at the Jeffco District Attorney’s Office requested for a six-year sentence to be carried out in the department of corrections but district court judge Margie Enquist placed Hosch in community corrections in order for him to continue sharing his story while discussing safe senior driving. According to Hosch’s attorney Greg Garland, this is what Hosch has been doing since the tragic accident which killed Baldwin on January 26. Hosch has maintained that he does not know what happened that morning while he was driving to church but stated his age was a factor. “There are so many little warning signs that things are not as smooth as they used to be — but we ignore them,” Hosch said while addressing the judge. “I should have
family) will forgive me and that is all I can ask for at this time.’ Kenneth Hosch
Kenneth Hosch, 83, sits quietly while his attorney Greg Garland makes a plea with the judge during sentencing on Friday, Aug. 29. Photo by Amy Woodward sought out more information to make a rational evaluation of my own skills and abilities,” he said. “I can only hope and pray that they (Baldwin’s family) will forgive me and that is all I can ask for at this time.” Among the officer’s present during the sentencing was Jeffco Sheriff Ted Mink, who spoke about Baldwin’s passion for road safety and his dedication to his work that was “unmatched” and irreplaceable. “His passion was not without purpose,” Mink said. “It was always about safety of the community.”
Baldwin’s brother, Bob Baldwin, echoed similar sentiments about his sibling. “Dave epitomized the giving of oneself for his brothers,” Baldwin said. “He always committed himself 100 percent to the people around him.” On Jan. 26, at 10:05 a.m., Baldwin was traveling in the left northbound lane on his Harley-Davidson patrol motorcycle, entering a sweeping curve. According to police officials, a 2004 Saturn Vue SUV driven by Hosch was traveling southbound through the curve when it crossed a double-yellow
line, traveling into the northbound lanes and passing at least one vehicle. The Saturn collided head-on with the Harley-Davidson. Hosch is alleged to have failed to return to his lane and continued driving southbound on the wrong side of the road for approximately 1,500 feet, the district attorney’s office reported. Witnesses of the crash estimate that Hosch was traveling 70 to 79 mph just before the collision with Sgt. Baldwin, according to court records. Investigators from the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office reported that Hosch was going 79 mph, which is 24 miles over the posted speed limit. The investigators added that if Hosch had been going the correct speed at 55 mph, both he and Baldwin would have had enough time to react and avoid the collision.
Council bans smoking on Washington Avenue
PREPPING IN THE PARK POSTAL ADDRESS
City controlled open spaces designated smoke-free zones By Amy Woodward
awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com
GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)
OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCIAL WITH US
PLE ASE RECYCLE T HIS C OPY
Employees from the City of Golden of the Parks and Recreation Department prepare for the concrete pouring for a new full basketball court and half court at White Ash Mine Park. Construction is expected to be complete by Sept. 15. Jared Colchin, right, and Nick Walton, left, dig up a sprinkler head as part of efforts to preserve the existing irrigation system along the parameter of the construction site on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Photo by Amy Woodward
Fact finding document rejected Witt pitches pay model By Crystal Anderson
canderson@colorado communitymedia.com Performance means everything. At least, in terms of teacher compensation for the Jefferson County Board of Education. During the Aug. 28 board of education meeting, the board voted (3-2) to reject the factfinding recommendations re-
garding negotiations with the district’s teachers association, the Jefferson County Educators Association (JCEA), proposing new compensation scale. “Focus on the goal,” said Board President Ken Witt during the meeting. “The goal is to have an effective teacher in every classroom, to align the evaluation system and align compensation. Teachers should be rewarded for being effective and not ineffective.” Following a month of hear-
ings with both sides, the fact finder found the district’s evaluation system was flawed, and recommended (www. jeffcopublicschools.org/human_resources/negotiations/ Jeffco_fact_finding_report.pdf ) teachers rated as “partially effective” should receive an increase in the 2014-2015 school year, but not receive the increases available to effective or highly effective teachers in the Fact continues on Page 5
Golden City Council voted to prohibit smoking on Washington Avenue as well as open spaces last Thursday. The city ordinance which goes into effect Jan. 1 was passed unanimously by council which has spoken at length about the public smoking ban, led by Councilor Saoirse Charis-Graves who has worked on the proposal since 2009. “I do believe it matters to our community, it’s been well documented that comprehensive smoke-free ordinances such as this one do reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, discourage youth from starting and increase success with quitting smoking,” Charis-Graves said. The city now defines smoking to mean a burning of lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or any other substance that contains tobacco or marijuana, and also prohibits the use of electronic smoking devices or e-cigarettes. Smoking on all public sidewalks and right of way along Washington Avenue including between 10th and 14th streets, the area along both sides of 12th street between Arapahoe and Ford streets as well as the area along both sides of 13th Street between Arapahoe and Ford streets is prohibited, according to the ordinance. Council continues on Page 5