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May 16, 2013

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A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourwestminsternews.com

Adams County and Jefferson County, Colorado • Volume 68, Issue 30

The Westminster Police Department stands in formation during a public memorial service on May 9 at Westminster Public Safety Center honoring fallen officers. Photos by Ashley Reimers

Honoring fallen police officers By Ashley Reimers

areimers@ourcoloradonews.com

Westminster police chief Lee Birk speaks during a public memorial service on May 9 at Westminster Public Safety Center honoring fallen officers.

In honor of those who have lost their lives in the line of duty, the city of Westminster and the Westminster Police Department hosted a public memorial service honoring their memories and their dedication to law enforcement. The memorial on May 9 at the Westminster Pubic Safety Center was also a public proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 12-18 as Police Week. On Oct. 1, 1962 President John F. Kennedy signed a bill designating the calendar week during which May 15 occurs as Police Week, recognizing the service of men and women in law enforcement. During the memorial, police chief Lee Birk recognized the seven men and wom-

en from Colorado who were killed last year in the line of duty. Those individuals were: • Officer Jim Davis, Lakewood Police Department; • Sergeant Mary Ricard, Colorado Department of Corrections; • Captain Leide DeFusco, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office; • Officer Matthew Tyner, Colorado Springs Police Department; • Officer Celena Hollis, Denver Police Department; • Detective Jeremy Bitne, Englewood Police Department; • Officer Kevin Denner, Littleton Police Department. “At this time it is certainly appropriate to sit back and reflect a little bit on the critical role of law enforcement providing safety and security to communities across

the nation and recognize the importance of law enforcement bringing justice to those how have been victimized by crime,” Birk said. “We take great pride in the trust the community gives us in our roles to try and keep you safe.” During the service Westminster mayor Nancy McNally thanked the men and women of the police department for their long hours dedicated to serving the community. McNally noted, in particular, the tireless hours of determined work done during the Jessica Ridgeway case last October. “We watched you with the Jessica Ridgeway case treat that as if she was your own daughter and you worked endlessly to get that to completion,” she said. “You are the very best and it’s been an honor to serve you for the last 12 years.”

County crunched in courts Prosecution’s hands full with Sigg, other death-related cases By Glenn Wallace

gwallace@ourcoloradonews.com A rise in serious crime — including prosecuting Austin Sigg for the murder of Westminster 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway — is taxing the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office and draining the depart-

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ment’s resources. “We’re strapped as an office,” Jefferson County District Attorney Pete Weir informed the Board of County Commissioners last week. In a May 7 staff briefing, Weir told the three county commissioners that the Sigg murder trial, along with a recent spike in serious crime offenses, has left his department spread thin. His office is currently involved in 13 death-related cases. “We will get it done. All cases are important for us. But it has stretched us to the max,” Weir told the commissioners. A gag order regarding the Sigg case kept Weir from discussing very many specifics, but he did go over the case timeline. Westminster 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway was walking to school on Oct. 5 when she disappeared. On Oct. 12 the media reported that remains of Ridgeway’s body had been found in the Leyden area. Austin Sigg, 17 years old at the time, would later contact police and turn himself in for the crime. He made his first court appearance on Oct. 25. BCC continues on Page 23

POSTAL ADDRESS

Colorado Gov. John Hickelooper discusses the legislative session during the Politics and Pints event on May 10 at the Westin Westminster. The event was sponsored by the Metro North Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Pam Wagner

Hickenlooper discusses legislative session at chamber event By Ashley Reimers

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areimers@ourcoloradonews.com Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper described this year’s legislative session as “tempestuous” and challenged reports of “partisanship” during the annual Politics and Pints event on May 10 at the Westin Westminster. “This year the session was a little more

tempestuous than last year,” Hickenlooper said. “But it was also not as partisan as people reported.” The event, sponsored by the North Metro Chamber of Commerce, was an opportunity for the community to hear from the governor and ask questions about particular legislative bills and other state concerns. Hickenlooper said one of the hardest Chamber continues on Page 23


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