Called to serve

Q&A DENVER SHERIFF ELIAS DIGGINS APPROACHES HIS JOB WITH A HUMAN TOUCH. // BY DOUG M c PHERSON

Elias Diggins earned his stars. He was a 21-year-old deputy when he started in the Denver Sheriff Department in 1994. Nearly three decades later, he is the sheriff.

Diggins took his first steps in law enforcement as a Criminal Justice student at Metropolitan State University of Denver in 1991 and graduated as a working adult in 1999. As sheriff, the Denver native has been lauded for his empathetic approach to policing and for creating a cabinet-level position in his administration that is focused on mental health services.

RED caught up with the award-winning law enforcement official to discuss his work as sheriff, the role of mental health in law enforcement and his time at the University.

Tell us about your work as Denver’s sheriff. I’ve been blessed to be in this position, to have been chosen by Mayor (Michael B.) Hancock and to lead all the talented men and women in the department. As I’ve grown into the role, I’ve worked to stay focused on the real-world issues and in particular the human element. Law enforcement serves the community — we deal with people — that’s the business we’re in. For the past 28 years, I’ve worked to recognize the humanity in people, and I encourage other officers to do the same.

You’ve made mental health a cornerstone of your

administration. Why? Over the years, I’ve seen an increase in the number of people who have mental health conditions. We talk about the root cause of why people stay in the cycle, and often it’s because of mental health. So we need to focus on that and get them the treatment they need to have a better life.

What was your experience like at MSU Denver? I always loved MSU Denver, the beautiful campus, all the activities. When I go back to visit, it feels like I’m going home. The growth has been tremendous: the addition of the hotel, the expansion of the athletic fields. All of it means great opportunities for students, and it makes me proud to be a Roadrunner.

The state’s first “detox” music festival returned this year with a Sept. 24 show on the Auraria Campus’ Tivoli Quad. The alcoholfree event, known as Sundown Colorado, focused on wellness, connection and dancing. Amber Handby (pictured), a 2012 graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Marketing program and one of the Alumni Association’s 10 Under 10 award winners for 2021, along with her husband, Mike Handby, organized the program. The festival has been described as an event for the “sober-curious,” a movement that encourages a sober lifestyle and, said Amber Handby, redefines what it means to be alive.

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