Deputy’s best friend School board approves pay increase for Je co educators

BY JANE REUTER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Eligible Je erson County educators will get a 5.25% pay increase and more money for medical bene ts in the upcoming school year — two of several bene ts included in a recently approved agreement between the Je erson County Education Association (JCEA) and the Je erson County School Board.

Most educators will receive an additional salary bump based on the amount of time they’ve worked in the district.

Despite those increases, JCEA President Brooke Williams said Jefferson County teacher salaries are low compared to many surrounding districts.

Deputy Zachary Oliver trains K-9 Ragnar July 11 on the Federal Center campus. Oliver’s previous partner, K-9 Gra t, was killed while apprehending a suspect Feb. 13. Thanks to generous donations from the community, the Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce was able to purchase K-9 Ragnar, along with a second K-9 for a new handler.

Je co Sheri ’s O ce welcomes two K-9s

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

roughout the spring, Deputy Zachary Oliver felt like something — or rather, someone — was missing from his work and home life.

On Feb. 13, he lost his K-9 partner Gra t, who was killed in the line of duty while trying to apprehend a suspect. e Je co Sheri ’s O ce purchased two new K-9s, Ragnar and Rico, earlier this summer and introduced them during a special July 11 media event on the Federal Center campus. e K-9s, who have been training with their deputy partners for six weeks, will be in training for 10 more weeks. Once done, they’ll be certied for narcotics detection, tracking individuals and apprehending suspects.

Oliver missed his partner and friend in the long weeks that followed, describing how going to work at the Je erson County Sheri ’s Ofce wasn’t the same without Gra t.

But, thanks to tremendous community support, Oliver now has a new partner in K-9 Ragnar.

K-9 Rico is working with Deputy Ryan Wagner, a new handler for Jeffco. Wagner has been with JCSO for

“Our goal is always to ensure we can keep the best educators in Je co to serve our students,” said Williams, who is also an art teacher in the district. “ ough we were hopeful to secure a deal that would keep our district more competitive among others in the Denver metro area, we are not done ghting for the competitive compensation loyal educators deserve. We made it clear to our district that they need to reward our educators with the most experience, and we desperately need Je co to commit to invest new funding into its employees.”