Patrol Officers
The Aspen Police Department's patrol Division provides 24-hour police services to the Aspen's approximately 3 square miles. Responding to a variety of calls including criminal incidents, civil complaints, and emergency medical calls, patrol officers are trained in handling any situation that may arise with a commitment to enhancing the quality of life in our community.
In 2010 the patrol division was made up of 26 officers, including four sergeants, two detectives, and one School Resource Officer. When they are not directly responding to calls, the patrol division is highly involved in proactive measures to prevent crime within the community. Officers communicate regularly with local businesses in an effort to foster mutually beneficial relationships with owners and employees. Officers can often be seen downtown on a weekend talking to bouncers and bar tenders or patrolling the mall on foot. High visibility and accessibility of officers helps maintain the policing style the public has come to know and respect in Aspen. Patrol officers also take part in many of the community events that are organized by the Community Safety Division, as well as mentoring programs through the Aspen School District.
Detectives
The detective’s office acts as a resource for patrol officers in their daily activities by providing advice, evidence processing skills, and equipment as needed. At the beginning of 2010 Walter Chi was assigned to a detective position joining Ian MacAyeal. New to this assignment, both Chi and MacAyeal spent much of the year acquiring increased levels of education and training necessary to carry out their duties. Training was received on major case investigations, property room management, technology evidence, and many more. The detectives also conducted in-house trainings for officers. Their trainings focused on basic crime scene processing, fingerprinting skills, drugged drink investigation procedures, and sexual assault investigation procedures. Detectives deal with a wide variety of cases on a regular basis. Some of the more prominent cases in 2010 included drug offenses, missing persons, check fraud, sexual assault cases, and more.
School Resource Officer
The Aspen Police Department considers its interactions with youth a priority. The police department assigns a school resource officer to the Aspen School District to assist with safety issues, criminal reporting, teaching classes, and fostering relationships with students. Interaction with students early on is one way that the department seeks to proactively prevent criminal activities. Officer Tina Schairer has served as the department’s school resource officer since September 2009, filling a role that is an institution within the Aspen School District.
Highlights from 2010:
- Cyber safety class for 4th and 5th graders
- Cyber bully awareness for freshmen
- Mock DUI, pre-prom alcohol awareness
- Participation in ex-ed trips
- Bike Rodeo
- Halloween safety education program
- Safe Chicks, self-defense and awareness for high school girls
Investigations and School Resource Officer are a subset of the Patrol Division, click for more information.