Local News – The Durango Herald

Trending:

Bennet: ‘We could lose the whole thing’ if Biden runs

U.S. senator tells CNN his Colorado constituents are concerned

DATE: Jul 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Farmers Market: Sunbird makes herbal drink mixers

The elixirs are made with locally harvested fruits

DATE: Jul 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

For Durango’s unhoused population, pet ownership is a burden and a blessing

Dogs help protect owners and keep them warm in winter, but make it hard to find jobs and housing

DATE: Jul 10, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Mary Alice Gonzales is named 2024 Mancos Days Queen

Annual honor given to Mary Alice Gonzales

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Dan Bender, who served La Plata County Sheriff’s Office for 37 years, dies at age 74

Former spokesman remembered for his sense of humor, selflessness and love of photography

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Update: Teenager arrested for reports of shots fired appears in court

Juvenile is identified, has been linked to questions about mother’s death

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Four injured in OHV rollover outside Silverton

Status of patients, two of whom were evacuated in critical condition, is unknown

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Agreement with property owner helps Durango’s SMART 160 Trail inch forward

Design work can now begin for route along Wilson Gulch

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Out with old in with the new

Demolition underway on old Miller Middle School buildings

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango seeks feedback for proposed ‘Malfunction Junction’ fixes

Public meeting to focus on mini roundabout, 14th Street realignment and other improvements

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Montezuma County commissioners hear public comment on biochar proposal

The Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners heard public comment on the impending biochar facility on what was previously the site of the IronWood Mill at their regularly scheduled me...

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Update: Motorcyclists involved in collision on U.S. Highway 160 identified

Two motorcyclists were taken to Mercy Hospital by ambulance

DATE: Jul 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

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
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Next ›