by Elean Gersack

On Monday, October 1, Douglas County Sheriff, David Weaver and Law Enforcement Bureau Chief, Holly Kluth, met with residents of Castle Pines North to discuss law enforcement plans should Castle Pines North (CPN) vote to approve incorporation on November 6.

The bottom line -- nothing would change. The current 4.5 mills assessed for law enforcement would shift and the City of Castle Pines North would contract with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) to provide the same services for the same dollars. The 4.5 mills equates to about $125 per year for homes valued at around $300,000.

“I have no doubt that DCSO is the best in Colorado,” said Weaver. Currently, DCSO provides first-rate law enforcement services including: patrol, traffic, pattern crimes, HAZMAT, SWAT, bomb squad, K-9 unit, jail and more. Should CPN elect to become a city, these services would continue seamlessly. As a new city, however, CPN could choose to make modifications to the law enforcement program, if desired. “The only change to what we currently offer is if CPN asks for more,” said Weaver.

After completing the discussion about law enforcement in a potential new city, Sheriff Weaver spoke with residents about a separate election issue: Ballot 1A - The Justice Center Sales Tax Extension.

Douglas County residents currently pay $.23 per $100 to help maintain the Douglas County Justice Center. With a “yes” vote on ballot 1A, $.13 of this tax would continue on for an additional ten years past the current end year of 2010 (to 2020) and $.10 would become permanent.

“In Douglas County, if you do the crime, you go to jail,” said Weaver. Through taxes, residents are tasked with providing appropriate jail facilities. The Douglas County Justice Center needs to accommodate the future anticipated growth - from 285,000 current residents to 450,000 in eighteen years. “It's the residents' responsibility to provide a jail and my responsibility to catch the bad guys and protect deputies,” said Weaver. “Let's do something now to stay ahead of the game or we will pay later.”

Residents who missed this meeting but are interested in learning more about future law enforcement in CPN and ballot issue 1A can attend a second session planned for Wednesday, October 17, at 7 p.m., at the Community Center located at 7404 Yorkshire Drive.