The sheriff and undersheriff…

Both were interviewed live on KSBV Radio’s Community Forum regarding funding problems related to the communications center and the results of the community forums on drug and alcohol abuse.

 The sheriff attended the December luncheon of the FBI National Academy Associates, Rocky Mountain Chapter, held at the PPA Events Center in Denver.

Operations

The sheriff and a deputy provided discreet plainclothes security at an afternoon reception for the artist Christo held at the SteamPlant.

With very substantial assistance from the County Clerk, the Sheriff’s Office cosponsored training at the Fairgrounds for employees in the retail alcohol sales and service industry.  Instructors were from the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division.

Charges of first and third degree arson filed in May against a Buena Vista resident after a four-month investigation were dismissed December 2 in Chaffee County District Court.  The dismissal was in response to a motion filed by the District Attorney’s Office and was based on the district attorney’s opinion that the case could not be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.  The case involved investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Chaffee County Fire, an independent insurance company, and CBI.  However, after careful consideration of the evidence presented by law enforcement and by the defendant’s team, and after considerable discussion among those involved, the district attorney determined that the evidence was not sufficient to prove this case to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt, and in the interest of justice, moved for dismissal.  The Sheriff’s Office and other agencies involved in the investigation fully concur with the district attorney’s decision.

Seven local police officers and three deputies participated in the annual Student Holiday Outing with Police (SHOP).  Ten fourth graders, five each selected from Salida and Buena Vista schools, accompanied the lawmen on a Christmas shopping trip for gifts donated by local businesses. 

The newly-revised website for the Sheriff’s Office is up and running.  Beginning with the November summary report to the commissioners, all such reports will be posted there for public inspection and comment.  Press releases also will be posted on the site, and eventually budget information and other items of interest to our community.  The site is found at www.chaffeesheriff.org.

Chaffee County Sheriff’s deputies and Buena Vista police officers assisted officers from the Salida Police Department in the arrest of Jayson Andrew Corbin Jamison, 37, on a warrant from Indiana charging Jamison with violating parole.  Jamison has a lengthy criminal history with arrests for illegal drug manufacturing for sale, dealing in illegal drugs, theft, forgery, disorderly conduct, and unlawful use of a weapon.  Jamison was taken into custody at a Salida motel where he was staying with his wife and two children.  Nine officers and deputies participated in the arrest which occurred at about 11:30pm Friday, December 30.  He was lodged at the county detention center on a no bond hold for Indiana authorities to await extradition to that state.

A late report.  In November, Chaffee Sheriff’s deputies arrested six persons, including three juveniles, for the burglaries in late October of several recreational trailers at Holiday RV Sales in Poncha Springs.  Information obtained from that investigation led to the arrests by Salida police of two of the juvenile suspects for several bicycle thefts and thefts from as many as thirty cars and trucks in Salida.  Charges filed against the defendants include felony and misdemeanor theft, felony and misdemeanor criminal trespass, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

   New hires

Our newly-hired patrol deputy began her 12-week field training program.  She formerly was a detentions deputy for several years with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office. 

   Complaints / commendations

A CBI official called the undersheriff to commend a deputy on his response to a citizen who reported a possible scam. The official said the deputy did an outstanding job assisting the citizen and took the time to explain everything to her.  The official said the citizen expressed her appreciation for the deputy’s professionalism and compassion.

Search and Rescue

The body of a 55-year-old Salida woman, who was the subject of an extensive two-day search in the Brown’s Creek area in Chaffee County, was discovered by a search dog and handler.  The deceased woman was found in a sitting position with her back against a tree about fifty yards from a side road.  There was no obvious trauma to the body and we do not consider the death suspicious.  The autopsy was inconclusive as to cause of death and results of blood tests have not yet been received.  The investigation into the incident will continue with the Salida Police Department the designated lead agency.  About twenty volunteers from the Chaffee County Search and Rescue team participated in the mission. 

A 48-year-old woman was injured when the snowmobile on which she was riding with her husband overturned while traversing deep powder in the Shirley Site area.  State Parks officers responded to the accident, as they investigate these incidents by agreement with federal officials on whose land the accident occurred.  Chaffee Search and Rescue South volunteers, along with Chaffee EMS paramedics, responded to her location and transported her to an ambulance site.  The woman, visiting from Missouri, was taken to Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center where she was treated for a broken ankle.

Detention Facility

A Christmas Day dinner of turkey and ham was donated, prepared, and served by members of the Salida Vineyard Christian Fellowship to all 35 jail inmates.  Hosting the event was the jail commander, Rick Holland, and his wife.

  Training

A half-day program in organizational development was conducted for all detention center employees.  The training was conducted by Ms. Tina Rowe, former Denver police captain who served as the appointed US Marshal for Colorado for six years.  She is now the principle in Tina Rowe Training and a recognized expert in organizational issues.  

  Personnel status change

Two new detentions deputies were sworn in by the undersheriff and have begun their orientation and training.