From the Edgewater Mayor Laura Keegan and City Manager Dan Maples:
June 5, 2020
Edgewater Community,
We would like to first thank everyone for their patience and support through these tough times. The events that unfolded in Minneapolis have stunned us all. As we work to understand what changes can be made to make this country more accepting to all races and nationalities, and how Edgewater can play a part in these changes, we ask for your continual support.
We have the upmost confidence in our Edgewater Police Officers, as they continue to provide services to our community. We appreciate their dedication and support and thank them for their service. Law enforcement has never been an easy career and now more than ever we need their dedication.
We would like to remind everyone that, as always, we welcome positive conversations and ideas that will promote a safer more inclusive Edgewater.
Message from Police Chief John Mackey:
Let me assure you that we at the Edgewater Police Department are appalled by the indefensible use of force and lack of intervention by other officers on the scene that led to George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. We salute and support the efforts of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office to prosecute the former officers to the highest degree of accountability. These officers must be held legally responsible for their actions, and inactions, that were inconsistent with any legitimate training and procedures of our profession. Incidents like this undermine efforts of law enforcement everywhere to build community trust with those we have sworn to serve and protect.
The vision of the Edgewater Police Department is to make certain that Edgewater remains a safe place to live, learn, work and play. To attain that vision we select, train and mentor Edgewater Officers in our Core Values, which are Professionalism, Pride, Honor, Integrity, Courage, Dedication and Loyalty.
Our Edgewater Police Department has achieved national recognition for our community policing efforts involving Nextdoor Neighborhood Watch. Edgewater’s engagement in community events are always done in unison with our community volunteers, who fill many roles in the department and have decades of experience living in Edgewater.
On a personal note, as family man with 6 adult children, my wife and I have been the surrogate parents to a beautiful black young lady for many years. We were privileged to walk her down the aisle at her wedding in Atlanta this past year. Obviously, prejudice does not have a place in our home. As a police officer in Colorado for 5 agencies in 39 years, and almost 20 as a police chief I have found it important to integrate the police department. Accordingly, a group of 4 former Edgewater Police Chiefs and longtime community volunteers assisted in our most recent selection of supervisors with the department.
The Edgewater Police Department utilizes the CIRSA (Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency) recommended Lexipol law enforcement policies. The policies are researched by subject matter expert attorneys and based on best practices while incorporating state and federal law.
Our Edgewater City Council and previous City Council has supported the evaluation of our police department by an outside assessment agency in 2017. The recommendations of this assessment have been concluded with the CACP Accreditation by this Fall.
While the tragedy that occurred in Minneapolis may have shaken the confidence some of you have in law enforcement, I would encourage any of you to learn more about policing locally in Edgewater. Your city council members, volunteers and many residents have taken the time to ride along with our officers and I would suggest any of you to do the same or talk to those that have done so. In close to 20 years managing community police departments, I am proud to serve with the best group of officers I have been able to put together to serve a community. Your team of officers will continue to work with the Edgewater City Council and community to maintain the confidence and trust we have built together.
Edgewater Police Department Workshop: The Edgewater Police Department will be providing a Virtual Public Workshop on June 16 at 6:30pm. At this meeting Police leadership will be providing information on the department and its current policies and procedures. This workshop will provide insight into the department. If you have questions or would like to hear about a specific process or procedure, please let us know. Please email dmaples@edgewaterco.com.
Safer at Home Order: Edgewater is currently following the State of Colorado Safer at Home Order. We will continue to watch for changes to this order. The Edgewater Civic Center is currently closed to the public but will reopen as allowed by the State Order. Edgewater staff can be reached via phone or email during normal hours.
Face Coverings: We highly recommend everyone continue to wear a mask when out in public to protect other community members during the pandemic conditions. Governor Polis issued an order that all businesses have the right to refuse service, if they so choose, to anyone not wearing a mask. For those needing to get out in the outdoors, enjoy the fresh air and exercise while you continue to respect the health of others by social distancing. By utilizing “Safe and now Safer at Home” and social distancing, we have been able to curb the spread of the virus and must continue to take its spread seriously.
25th Ave. Traffic Changes: If you have been down 25th Ave. within the last week, you have witnessed some major changes to the traffic pattern. These temporary changes include making 25th a one-way from Sheridan to Benton and were originally proposed and approved through the 2019 Traffic Calming and Mobility Plan. This provides additional space for restaurants and safer access to our local businesses as they reopen to meet distancing requirements during the pandemic.
Local Business Patio Extension: City Council has approved several measures that streamline the process for local businesses to apply to expand outdoors to provide more space for distancing and public safety. For more information please visit www.edgewaterco.com.
Residential Assistance Grants: On April 20, Edgewater’s City Council approved funding for a community grant assistance program through Ordinance No. 2020-05. Edgewater Residents who have lost work due to the COVID crisis are invited to apply for a $300 grant from the City of Edgewater. The City is partnering with Edgewater nonprofit, Brothers Redevelopment, to administer this application process. All applicants may start the process by completing and submitting a pre-screening application to determine eligibility. Please visit www.edgewaterco.com for more information.
We all appreciate your patience and partnership as we support each other through this difficult situation. Wishing all of you and your families the best of health.
Laura Keegan
Edgewater Mayor
Dan Maples
Edgewater City Manager
Joel has been a resident of Edgewater, Colorado with his family since 2012. He is the Executive Director of local education nonprofit Edgewater Collective and Editor of the Edgewater Echo.
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