The Detail April 2025

SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM CRACKS DOWN ON stolen cars

County sees sharp decline in auto thefts, more arrests

In 2021, when the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office created the Special Response Team or SRT, the goal was to better respond to the vast number of high-risk calls. Sergeant Nick Rodriguez, who had more than 20 years experience in law enforcement, was the first sergeant assigned to the new team.

"We were so busy with calls, whether it was helping investigators, our federal partners, arresting people with warrants, or responding to our own high-risk calls for service, we were pulling our SWAT team members from their other assignments and that was creating staffing shortages. We formed this team because we desperately needed it," said Sgt. Rodriguez.

SRT is made up of eight SWAT team members who spend much of their time doing proactive enforcement, such as cracking down on motor vehicle thefts and arresting those who steal cars. They've been so succesful at it, the number of auto thefts has dropped 36% from 2023 to 2024 while the number of arrests has more than doubled during that same time period from 40 arrests to 84.

"We've been hitting it hard snce the inception of SRT. Finding stolen cars is not our sole function, but we have an interest in it because we like to deter crime and we want to hold people accountable. The numbers have a lot to do with the high-functioning of the team. We work well together, we have the training, the equipment, and we can do it safely," says Sgt. Rodriguez.

Technology is another reason for SRT's crime-fighting success and what deputies call a "game changer." Flock safety cameras, also known as license plate readers, provide deputies with important information on the location and travel patterns of car thieves. If deputies on patrol get a Flock alert, they act fast.

"Patrol deputies often work alone, but we (SRT) work in groups of four to six, so it makes it a lot easier for us to take down a car thief and we always wait for an opportune time so we don't cause risk to people around us," says Sgt. Rodriguez.

When it comes to auto theft, SRT targets high-crime areas and conducts surveillance. For them, it's important to get these criminals off the street because auto theft is not just a property crime, it has a direct link to other crimes.

"These car thieves are robbing people, shooting people, stealing, burglarizing, carjacking, you name it. Ninety percent of the time, there's either guns or drugs or fentanyl and they're ruining people's cars," says Sgt. Rodriguez.

According to C-MATT, an auto theft task force which investigates motor vehicle theft in Colorado, Arapahoe County now has one of the lowest motor vehicle theft rates in the state and one of the highest number of arrest rates. There's no question that success points to this dedicated group of deputies who are serious about fighting crime.

"I work with a great bunch of guys who are hard-working, proactive, and train a lot. They come to work and always give 100% and I think that's why our team is so successful because we all have the same mindset. We come to work because we want to make a difference for the public, the county and we enjoy what we do. If we didn't enjoy it we wouldn't be so successful."

Watch the video below of Sgt. Rodriguez chasing and arresting a car theft suspect.

ACSO DEBUTS NEW K9

The Sheriff's Office is introducing a new four-legged deputy to its team. K9 Grimm is a 2-year-old German Shepherd and is partnered with Deputy Halliburton, who is the ACSO's first female patrol K9 handler.

"I became interested in the K9 program in 2015. It was then, I started attending trainings so I could learn as much as possible. Then, I became an official K9 decoy in 2018. In 2024, a K9 handler position opened and I was excited to finally achieve my career goal with my K9 partner Grimm," says Deputy Halliburton.

K9 Grimm is originally from Slovakia and came to the Sheriff's Office from a breeder in Arkansas when he was 18 months old. He's spent the past few months getting to know his handler, but now he's officially in "field training" and responding to patrol calls to locate suspects, drugs and evidence.

Grimm is part of a team of five other patrol K9s including Rust, Bodhi, Voq and Nuke. All the dogs live with their handlers when they aren't working. Sergeant Starbuck, who oversees the K9 Unit, says each dog has very distinct personalities.

"Each handler has to learn their individual dog's personality or traits and train them according to what's best for their needs. Grimm is very happy-go-lucky. He still has a lot of puppy traits and he's excited to learn and make his handler happy," says Sgt. Starbuck.

All of the ACSO's K9s were purchased by Back the Blue K9 Force, a non-profit which pays for police and therapy dogs for law enforcement agencies in Colorado.

jail unveils New Kitchen and Laundry Facility

By Anders Nelson, Public Information Officer

The Sheriff’s Office has taken a significant step forward with the completion of a modernized kitchen and laundry facility at the Arapahoe County Detention Facility. Designed to accommodate the growing inmate population, this new expansion improves daily operations, enhances efficiency, and supports better inmate care.

Originally built in 1986 to house fewer than 400 inmates, the Detention Center now regularly holds more than twice that number. As the county’s population has grown, so have the demands on essential services. The new kitchen and laundry building was designed to handle these increased needs while also freeing up space for other critical improvements.

“The new kitchen and laundry facility greatly improves our ability to prepare meals, store food, and handle laundry efficiently,” said Bureau Chief Scott Luedtke. “Our old setup was designed for a much smaller inmate population, and over time, it became increasingly difficult to keep up with demand."

Relocating the kitchen and laundry has also made room for other improvements inside the existing jail. One of the most significant upgrades will be 43 additional medical and behavioral health beds, increasing facility capacity to 64 beds. This expansion strengthens the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to provide essential care, aligning with its commitment to rehabilitation and well-being. Sheriff Tyler Brown acknowledged the positive impact of the renovations but emphasized the need for continued progress.

“The completion of the kitchen and laundry was a critical first step, but now our focus shifts to expanding medical and behavioral health services. The reality is that our detention facility is outdated, and in the coming years, we need to consider replacing it altogether," says Sheriff Brown.

The expansion of medical and behavioral health beds is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The total project is estimated at $46 million.

Patrolling bennett -- one year later

By Deputy John Bartmann, Public Information Officer

On May 1, 2025, the Town of Bennett and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office will proudly celebrate the first anniversary of their partnership in providing law enforcement services to the rural community. The collaboration, which started on May 1, 2024, has significantly enhanced public safety and community engagement in Bennett.

The ACSO has assigned two full-time deputies and one part-time investigator to the Town of Bennett, with provisions to adjust that staffing in the future as the needs of the town evolves.

In addition to fulfilling traditional law enforcement roles, the Sheriff's Office has been actively involved in community events, strengthening connections with residents. Highlights include the inaugural "Cops and Bobbers" fishing event, Bennett Days, and the Bennett Community Night Out. These events have created meaningful opportunities for deputies to interact with residents in informal settings, bolstering community trust.

"The Town of Bennett is proud of the strong partnership we've built with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office over the past year. The Sheriff's Office's professionalism, dedication, and commitment to community engagement have exceeded our expectations, ensuring our residents feel safe, heard, and well-served," says Trish Stiles, Bennett Town Manager.

The proactive approach of the deputies, combined with regular patrols, enforcement efforts, and community interactions, has ensured residents feel secure, acknowledged, and well-supported. Sheriff Tyler Brown says he's grateful for the success of the partnership.

"We appreciate the trust the Bennett Board of Trustees and town management have placed in the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office to provide law enforcement services for the great citizens of Bennett. We're thankful for the support and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship."