Police chief reports staffing gains, training partnerships and new panic-button security measures

The Rangely Police Chief gave an extended report on personnel, training and building security. He said the department is investigating two recent deaths (no risk to the community), plans to place a newly certified officer on patrol on June 30, and continues to recruit for a full-time dispatcher and a part-time officer.

The chief described training and certification work: several instructors recertified in skills such as intoxilyzer instruction, TASER, and drug-recognition expertise, and the department hosts regional trainings in partnership with Colorado Northwestern Community College and neighboring agencies. He said the town budgets about $20,000 annually for training but typically recoups 80–95% through grants and reimbursements; "We just received a $3,600 payment from our 9 1 1 board" was noted as a recent reimbursement.

On facility security, the chief described panic buttons installed at the council seat, judge’s position and front desk (and at the library) that ring directly into dispatch with location indicators; he said dispatch can monitor video and audio in this room outside of court proceedings. Addressing how the council should behave in a violent or armed incident, he advised that when a uniformed officer arrives the quickest way to show you are not a threat is to "put your hands up" so responding officers can quickly identify non-threats.

The chief said the panic buttons were tested that day, batteries replaced, and that the town will run monthly tests and scheduled servicing with the vendor Current Solutions. He also described a national leadership recognition by FBI-LEEDA and his election to a leadership board that covered his conference costs this year.