Sheriff's staff brief council on helicopter response, motorcycle enforcement and DUI grant

Representatives of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office updated council on public-safety operations affecting Castle Pines. The sheriff's team said there are staffing changes coming (retirements and reassignments) and that the county helicopter responded rapidly to a June 19 grass fire in Highlands Ranch, stopping the blaze before homes were damaged.

"This helicopter was there within a very short time frame, and the fire was put out and no homes were lost or damaged," the sheriff's presenter said, noting the aircraft is stationed for quick countywide response. The sheriff's office also recapped a vehicle-inspection operation on June 4 in which 17 inspections produced 8 citations and multiple vehicles taken out of service; the office said it will continue focused commercial-vehicle enforcement because overweight trucks damage local roadways.

Deputies and commanders told the council they see motorcycle racing in residential areas as a growing safety concern and said traffic and long-patrol teams have been assigned to address it. The sheriff's office also said Douglas County received a $65,000 state grant for DUI and high-visibility enforcement that will be used across the county, including Castle Pines.

Deputy Scott Haggerty and other deputies answered council questions about night-time incidents, stolen e-scooters, enforcement teams and community education. The Sheriff's Office encouraged residents to use the county's online reporting portal to flag recurring issues and said it will continue outreach and enforcement.