Letters to the Editor – The Durango Herald

Trending:

City needs ‘training in diversity, tribal sovereignty’

One of the really special things about living in our area is the opportunity to interact with our multicultural neighbors. I have followed the conflict between the city of Durango and the So...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Always about power/votes or money’

If President Joe Biden had just held up the existing laws on immigration when he was elected, there wouldn’t be a need for his executive order to finally take control of the border. But the ...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘We are not fooled by a shill’

In reading the pro-merger stance of Scott Moses, head of grocery, pharmacy and restaurants for Solomon Partners, and who was paid to conclude this stance between Krogers and Solomon client A...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘I walk Main, think of tourist visiting’

Recently, there have been numerous letters with opinions on the lack of parking in the general downtown Durango area. I spend quite a bit of time in Durango, and agree with most about less a...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Shall righteousness follow in his footsteps?’

When the words of Holy Scripture become circumstantial –sometimes they apply, other times they don’t – doesn’t that diminish their authenticity as guidelines for living a better life? Quotin...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘If Democrats win in November’

Let me prophesize what living in America will be like if the Democrats win in November. It’s not hard – past performance, actions and policy are the basis for my predications. Energy: The wa...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Three Springs Logistic Puzzle (T3SLP)’

Concerning the Three Springs Logistic Puzzle (T3SLP). The Future Animas River Trail (FART) dead ends under the Farmington Hill Roller Coaster (FHRC). How do you get to Durango downtown (DDT)...

DATE: Jun 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Trump ‘cried, whined, blamed everyone but himself’

Finally, Donald Trump was convicted on a felony. After hundreds of felonies he has committed, courageous, strong women showed the world what Trump is made of. This is the first time in Trump...

DATE: Jun 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

CD-3 candidates ‘vied to out-crazy each other’

Thank you, for the detailed article about the debate at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post among the Republican candidates for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. The statements of the fiv...

DATE: Jun 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Do own research’ on Kennedy Jr.

Those in power seek to stay in power and their influence includes promoting lies. In a recent guest column by Mike Littwin, he called presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. an “anti-vaxxe...

DATE: Jun 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘A warped sense of humor helps’

The former POTUS is spewing lies about law enforcement wanting to retrieve classified documents scattered in his bathroom, at gunpoint, when no guns were drawn. Mar-a-Loco is the new name fo...

DATE: Jun 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‘Candidates wrapping themselves in flag’

I read with interest the The Durango Herald’s article on Friday about the forum for Republican candidates for the 3rd Congressional District. Of the candidates, Lew Webb seems to be the one ...

DATE: Jun 9, 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

‹ Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next ›