Page 5 - September 2017 The Castle Pines Connection

Municipal News
CastlePinesConnection.com 5 Public-private partnership results in new public safety driver
training facility
Information provided by Douglas County
While the vision was more than 14 years in the making, thanks to a donation of $3.3 million from RE/MAX International founders and philanthropists Dave and Gail Liniger, the new Liniger Emergency Vehicle Operations Center is now open in Douglas County.
This new facility will provide Douglas County, as well as other metro-area public safety agencies, a safe place to teach advanced decision making, proper pursuit driving and pursuit termination, communication while driving, defensive driving, day and night driving, inclement weather skills, vehicle dynamics and limitations, motorcycle officer certifications, crash investigation training and the most recent approaches to traffic incident management.
The Liniger’s donation represented nearly one half of the estimated $6.8 million cost to build and equip phase one of the center.
“This facility is essential because emergency responders are not normal drivers. Collectively, our deputies drive more than 3.5 million miles per year and must make split-second safety decisions – many while driving. Every aspect of the facility has an engineered purpose and the advanced training we receive here will
City of Castle Pines meeting on
the City’s roads
Information and photo provided by the City of Castle Pines
Mayor Jeff Huff spoke to approximately 50 residents at a community meeting to learn about current road conditions, future road funding options and proposed safety enhancements to the City's transportation network. The City is currently seeking resident feedback on a proposed
1 percent sales tax increase and a 3.75 percent grocery tax to help fund road improvements.
ultimately make our staff and community safer,” said Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock. “It is designed to emulate the community roads that emergency responders must safely navigate every day.”
More than just a benefit to public safety agencies, with an estimated 19,000 teenage drivers in Douglas County, the facility will emerge over the next year as a training home for those who offer private teen driver safety programs.
“We are grateful to philanthropists Dave and Gail Liniger who demonstrated enormous generosity and their commitment to public safety through their donation,” said Roger Partridge, chair of the board of Douglas County Commissioners.
The Liniger Emergency Vehicle Operations Center sits on 80 acres, located at 8500 Moore
Video still showing a police car driving through a course at the new Liniger Emergency Vehicle Operations Center.
Road – near Titan Road and Santa Fe Drive. Phase one of the center features a 1.6-mile training roadway, 9.2 acres for a large asphalt skills pad training area, and a smaller 1.8-acre asphalt skills pad training area.
Owned by Douglas County, the facility will
be managed in partnership with the Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Training Foundation.