Letters to the Editor – The Durango Herald

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‘Rage rhetoric’ all around us

George Washington said, “If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” George had something there, but because we didn’t heed his warni...

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Henson had ‘fierce’ dedication improving workforce housing

Thank you, Dan Armentano, for your letter to the editor titled “Henson an exceptional public servant.” It is difficult to describe all of the many accomplishments Eva Henson, former Housing ...

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Inaugural ‘One to One Reading’ program a success

I am delighted to share the success of the One to One Reading program, which was launched by Durango School District this past school year. We welcomed 44 dedicated volunteer reading coaches...

DATE: Jul 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Primary ballots system is ‘accurate’

Two weeks after primary ballots were cast, I sat with a partner from the Republican Party to help County clerk Tiffany Lee and her staff perform this very important process. It was very deta...

DATE: Jul 18, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘I learned to trust’ Democrats with U.S. economy

In the U.S., we have the odd impression that presidents ought to be Superman, being able to resolve any issue and being responsible for all mishaps. No other developed country puts so much v...

DATE: Jul 18, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Where is an asteroid?’

Two old dinosaurs are running for president of the United States. Where is an asteroid when we really need one? James F. Andrus Cortez ...

DATE: Jul 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Man-caused global warming theory a scam’

No, our part of the planet is not experiencing a climate change crisis. Climate change is a phenomenon that occurs over hundreds of thousands to millions of years. None of us will see any ch...

DATE: Jul 17, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Report news honestly or get out’

Although some reports of the growing crimes by illegal aliens against U.S. citizens are breaking through the leftist news blackout, for the most part the left hides injuries and deaths to U....

DATE: Jul 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Stakes far too high to hesitate’

Thank you for publishing James Carville’s guest column on Wednesday and the news story on Michael Bennet in the same issue. Today, not tomorrow, is the time to reframe the choosing of the D...

DATE: Jul 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Next Step will make parking downtown dangerous’

The Next Step plan for Main Avenue will make parking downtown dangerous. The center lane, where delivery trucks park, is being reduced in width from 12 to 10 feet. The two traffic lanes will...

DATE: Jul 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Bad night, throw him under bus?’

I usually agree with most editorials, but not the one about abandoning our president. Joe Biden has done so much for this country, more than the last five presidents combined, especially for...

DATE: Jul 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Duties of commander in chief in crisis’

My 40-year Department of Defense career was entirely in the trenches but with random Forrest Gump experiences. I had the tremendous honor and privilege to serve in times and circumstances th...

DATE: Jul 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Photos: ‘Mini Takes the States’ tour stops in DurangoHundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Hundreds of Mini Cooper vehicles occupy Fort Lewis College on Sunday; Participants began the journey in Albuquerque and will finish in Seattle

Photos: Boxing returns to DurangoAnimus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Animus on the Animas: 1st Annual Durango Boxing Classic at the Durango Main Mall on Saturday

Photos and video: Going for the gold by devouring piesContestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Contestants try their best to win the Oscar’s Pie Eating Contest on Friday in Durango

Photo: Fireworks light the sky in DurangoDurango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Durango celebrates Independence Day on Thursday night

Photos: Working with woodLocal craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

Local craftsman uses wood joinery, rather than nails or screws to construct homes and other structures

2024 Fourth of July Parade draws crowd Thursday in downtown Durango

Photos: Downtown Durango hosts Fourth of July ParadeDowntown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Downtown sidewalks were full for Thursday’s celebration

Durango Rotary Club, Parks and Recreation department host Independence Day events

Law enforcement conducts active threat training at Park Elementary SchoolResidents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Colorado sent officers to participate in active threat training this week at Park Elementary School in Durango. Those in the neighborhood can expect police vehicles parked on the premises, officers in tactical gear conducting exercises inside and outside the school, and signs advising that training is in progress. The sounds of shouting, airsoft weapons and the popping of a starter pistol will also be audible near the school, said Karla Sluis, spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R.Sluis said that members of the school district’s safety department have gone door-to-door with flyers notifying residents around Park Elementary School about the training.

Hosted by the Durango Police Department and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office, this week’s voluntary training invited officers from law enforcement agencies across a five-county region of Southwest Colorado encompassing La Plata, Archuleta, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores counties.

La Plata County Sheriff’s Office deputy Mike Latham, lead instructor for this week's training, said Wednesday and the first half of Thursday were mostly preparatory, teaching officers the school’s layout and devising scenarios, whereas the latter half of Thursday and Friday residents should anticipate some noise as active threat scenarios play out.

Latham said active threat training teaches officers proper protocol during active threat scenarios, especially in densely populated areas where they have become increasingly common.Park Elementary School is not the only Durango School District facility law enforcement has conducted active threat training. Latham said schools lend themselves well to this sort of training because, “It gives us all kinds of doors to work on, different rooms, different scenarios we can run. We can pretend it’s a mall with nice big corridors, we can even pretend it’s an outdoor area in the gymnasium.”Latham has participated in active threat training multiple times in the past and described the drills as exhilarating and nerve-wracking. He said one of the training’s main goals is teaching officers how to manage stress and remain calm with lives on the line.

“I take a pulse oximeter in the morning and get a baseline on their heart rates,” Latham said. “And sometimes, just before they’re about to engage a threat, I say ‘Timeout.’ Put it (the oximeter) on there, and their heart rate’s skyrocketed to 140, 150, 160 just in training.”

Latham said throughout his career active threat training has evolved to become safer for officers and fall in line with increasingly professional police standards.“When I first started we were just running into halls and rooms hoping for the best,” Latham said. “Now the tactic is still to get there, still stop the taking of lives, but tactics are much better than they were 20 years ago.”

Residents may see and hear police activity Thursday and Friday

Photos: Flower powerDurango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

Durango Botanic Gardens holds 11th annual ‘Gardens on Tour’ on Saturday

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