by Terri Wiebold

Two Castle Pines North (CPN) residents, Carol Langley-Finnegan of The Retreat and Walt Wohlgemuth of Forest Park, (pictured above) were selected to attend the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Community Safety Volunteer Program. The 10-week citizen’s academy began April 4, 2006, and sixteen other participants from Douglas County are attending the training as well. Each will receive specialized training in the areas of self defense, conflict resolution, defensive driving, and many other basic skills useful in the field of law enforcement.

The program is designed to enable volunteers with the skills needed to provide services to the community in those areas of law enforcement that do not require the attention of a sworn officer. Participants in the program will be trained to respond to residential burglary alarms, run radar, direct traffic, respond to minor theft reports, run vehicle identification numbers, impound cars, help take witness statements, and perform investigation follow-up. Community Safety Volunteers (CSVs) will be easily recognizable in the community. They will wear uniforms and drive patrol cars specially marked “Douglas County Sheriff Community Safety Patrol.”

“When I volunteered to be a part of this program, I had no idea how valuable and how important this program would be for the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Langley-Finnegan.

The graduation and swearing-in ceremony are scheduled for June 8. After graduation Langley-Finnegan and Wohlgemuth will be involved in the community relations aspect of the program in addition to the patrol aspect. They will attend Homeowner’s Association meetings and will engage in dialogue with residents on issues of concern.

Langley-Finnegan said she looks forward to becoming a regular fixture out in the community and on the streets. “Our regular presence on the streets of Castle Pines North will help ensure that crime stays down in our communities,” she said.

To learn more about his program, or for a list of minimum requirements to apply for the program, go to www.cpnhoa.org. Applications are available online at www.dcsheriff.net or at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. For additional information, please contact Captain Kim L. Castellano at 303-660-7516.