Chairperson Nate Marsh  
Vice Chair Clark Hammelman  
Robert Dziubla  
Public Safety Commission  
Meeting Minutes  
Trevor Knotts  
Richard Morton  
Andy Powell  
Steve Thayer  
Laurie Van Court  
Thursday, April 3, 2025  
3:00 PM  
Castle Rock Municipal Courtroom  
100 Perry St., Castle Rock, CO 80104  
This meeting is open to the public. Please note that all times indicated on the agenda are approximate and  
interested parties are encouraged to be present earlier than the posted time.  
Call to Order and Attendance  
Vice-Chairperson Hammelman called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.  
Guest - Commander Sam Varela and Officer Emanuel Cooper, Police Department  
6 -  
Present  
Vice Chair Clark Hammelman, Richard Morton, Steve Thayer, Laurie Van Court, Trevor  
Knotts, and Robert Dziubla  
2 - Chairperson Nate Marsh, and Andy Powell  
Not Present  
Attendance  
3 - Oren Bersagel-Briese, Jack Cauley, and Deborah Stanley  
Approval of Meeting Minutes  
PS 2025-007 Public Safety Commission meeting minutes - Mar. 6, 2025  
Attachments: Public Safety Commission meeting minutes - Mar. 6, 2025  
Mr. Dziubla moved to approve the March 6, 2025 minutes. Ms. Van Court seconded  
the motion: the motion carried.  
6 - Vice Chair Hammelman, Morton, Thayer, Van Court, Knotts, and Dziubla  
2 - Chairperson Marsh, and Powell  
Yes:  
Not Present:  
Fire Department Report  
PS 2025-008 CRFD February Report  
Attachments: CRFD February Report  
·
·
Commission members were emailed a copy of the Fire  
Department’s February report prior to today’s meeting.  
Deputy Chief (DC) Bersagel-Briese reintroduced himself to the  
commission. Chief Croom is away, attending the 2025 Accreditation  
Conference.  
·
DC Bersagel-Briese thanked members for attending the Fire  
Department’s Annual Banquet. As mentioned at the banquet,  
department members will receive a commemorative badge to mark  
the 130 anniversary of the founding of the department.  
March was a very busy month, with the department averaging 20  
calls a day.  
·
·
Katt Walsh, the new accreditation manager, is now onboard. She  
came to us from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.  
·
The department has completed and submitted its 2026-2030 budget  
requests to Finance for review. Are there any big dollar items in the  
future budget? - The department has facility and equipment upgrade  
needs (which include long term planning for replacement items).  
Are there any new vehicle requests? The vehicle that was to be  
ordered next year has been moved up to this year, as build times are  
four years out. Does 2-A change the budget process? No, the  
timeline and review process remain the same. Funding for  
additional staff members through 2-A come from a separate fund.  
The department has just completed its lateral hiring process (as part  
of 2-A). 10 lateral candidates have been selected to move forward in  
the screening process. The Lateral Academy is scheduled to start  
at the end of this month and will go for six weeks.  
·
·
·
·
The department is receiving a new medic unit in June. The  
department is also installing auto dispensing units for controlled  
substances, similar to what is used by the hospitals.  
DC Bersagel-Briese spoke briefly about last week’s house fire on Tee  
Lane. A crew member at the scene, partially fell through the floor and  
called a Mayday. He was able to extricate and was uninjured.  
The department is in the process of adding additional beds, shower and  
furnishings at Station 155 in preparation of the new medic unit at the  
station. In addition, the department is evaluating space allocations at  
Headquarters.  
·
·
·
The decision has been made to move the Station 156 site away from the  
flood plain. The station will now be located on the south side of Castle  
Oaks and Pleasant View.  
DC Bersagel-Briese and members of the apparatus team are flying out at  
the end of the month to the Pierce factory, to conduct a pre-inspection on  
the reserve apparatus.  
The department has selected OAK to manage the pre-construction  
services for Station 156.  
Police Department Report  
PS 2025-009  
CRPD February Report  
Attachments: CRPD February Report  
·
·
·
Commission members were emailed a copy of the Police  
Department’s February report prior to today’s meeting.  
Chief Cauley introduced Commander Sam Varela and Officer Emanuel  
Cooper to commission members.  
Criminal offenses are down. Castle Rock has been ranked the 8th  
safest city in Colorado and is the only front range community to  
make the list.  
·
·
The Citizens’ Police Academy kicked off last night with 30 attendees.  
It is one of the Police Department’s most popular community  
programs.  
With the passing of 2-A, the department is hiring 11 positions (9  
sworn, 1 dispatcher, and an Animal Control Supervisor). The  
department continues to attract great candidates and does not focus  
on traditional matrixes. Are these lateral hires? - Both lateral, and  
candidates needing a full academy. Some from other states as well.  
Brief discussion on lateral hiring.  
·
The Police Department was complimented on its social media posts  
and emails. Great job.  
Special Presentation - Officer Emanuel Cooper  
Officer Emanuel Cooper gave a presentation on his book “The Rookie Handbook -  
How to Become the Officer Every Department Wants and Every Department  
Needs".  
New Business  
Old Business  
n/a  
n/a  
Commissioner Comments and Questions  
·
Vice-Chairperson Hammelman informed Commission members that the  
Rotary Club is setting up collection barrels at both Fire and Police, to  
collect used crutches, walkers and wheel chairs.  
Adjourn  
Ms. Van Court made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Morton seconded the  
motion. All were in favor.  
The meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.  
The next Public Safety Commission meeting is scheduled for May 1, 2025 at 3:00  
p.m. at the Police Department.