On New Year’s Eve 2017, as most of the Denver metro area was preparing to ring in 2018, Deputy Zack Parrish of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department was part of a team responding to a disturbance call that became an ambush. Deputy Parrish was killed and four other officers and two civilians were wounded. Within four weeks two additional Colorado Deputies would lose their lives in action. It is the largest loss of Colorado law enforcement lives in that short a time span in over 100 years. Now, several weeks later, it seems everyone has moved on after sharing Thoughts and Prayers, but what about the law enforcement community? We decided to find out in a candid conversation with men and women who are closest to it and that discussion, titled “A Blue Perspective”.
We had the chance to sit with four local law enforcement leaders to share their insights. Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz; Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock; Police Psychologist Dr. Sara Garrido and Aurora Police Sgt. Mike Pitrusu give a look into department morale, how their approach to policing has changed, care of officers and their families and how the community has supported them. It seemed important to pick the conversation up and I’m crazy proud that we have an opportunity to do that here.
