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Colorado Springs council proclaims Fire Prevention, Police Appreciation, Creek Week and Suicide Prevention months
Summary
At its Sept. 23 meeting the council passed resolutions recognizing October 2025 as Fire Prevention Month and Police Appreciation Month, Sept. 27–Oct. 5 as Creek Week, and declared September as Suicide Prevention Month; city officials outlined outreach efforts and safety statistics.
The Colorado Springs City Council on Sept. 23 approved a series of ceremonial recognitions and proclamations highlighting public‑safety and community outreach campaigns.
Fire Prevention Month: Council adopted a resolution recognizing October 2025 as Fire Prevention Month, with a theme focused on lithium‑ion battery safety. Fire Marshal Chris Cooper and Community Education manager Daiko Abe described a five‑year local task force, roughly 30 reported lithium‑ion incidents to the fire department over that period, and ongoing education and alarm‑installation efforts (last year the team installed 147 smoke alarms and 55 carbon monoxide alarms in a mobile home park).
Police Appreciation Month: Council recognized October 2025 as Police Appreciation Month after Councilmember David Donaldson read a letter from Tim Lee describing the "See a Cop, Think a Cop" billboard campaign used to promote recruitment and public gratitude. Police Chief Vasquez thanked the community and emphasized routine, community‑oriented policing; council approved the resolution unanimously.
Creek Week: Council also approved recognition of Creek Week (Sept. 27–Oct. 5, 2025) and heard from Mary Wilson of the Fountain Creek Watershed District about a nine‑day cleanup program across the 927‑square‑mile watershed. Wilson noted that the district’s current funding (largely from Colorado Springs Utilities) is approximately $50 million and that sustainable funding is being pursued through member governments.
Suicide Prevention Month: The council and mayor issued a joint proclamation recognizing September 2025 as Suicide Prevention Month. Speakers highlighted local progress reported during the past year — an 18% decrease in suicide deaths in El Paso County (from 189 to 155) and a reported 60% reduction in teen suicide completions — while urging continued investment in prevention, safe firearm storage, and use of 988 for crisis support.
Each action included staff or partner presentations and passed at the meeting; several items were followed by celebratory photos and brief remarks about next steps for outreach and partnerships.
Provenance: Resolutions presented beginning at SEG 106; Fire Marshal and education staff remarks at SEG 213–381; Police appreciation discussion at SEG 549–679; Creek Week presentation at SEG 696–857; Suicide Prevention proclamation at SEG 1000–1266.
Speakers: Fire Marshal Chris Cooper, Daiko Abe (Community Education), Councilmember David Donaldson, Chief Vasquez, Mary Wilson (Fountain Creek Watershed District), Cas Walton (Suicide Prevention Collaborative).
