David Walcher, candidate for Arapahoe County sheriff

(Incumbent)

Party: Republican

City or town of residence: Aurora

Profession: Sheriff

Campaign Website: davewalcherforsheriff.com

What makes you the best choice for sheriff?

My experience of being in my fifth year as sheriff, 37 years in law enforcement and my accomplishments. I've more than doubled the number of school resource officers we have, signed a new 10-year contract with Centennial, opening of a regional crime lab that will serve the entire Judicial District, increased patrol staffing to include the eastern part of Arapahoe County, and more and better training in dealing with people with mental health issues.

How has population growth affected crime in the county?

More people moving to, traveling through and spending time in Arapahoe County has increased calls for service, which result in increased criminal activity. We continue to be a safe community overall, but think about expanding single-family residential areas, multi-family housing developments, business development, increased traffic, and an increase in the prevalence of mental health related calls for service (which sometimes turn into criminal behavior) and drugs.

Do deputies need to be trained to better handle calls related to mental illness?

We can always use more and better training and tools to handle calls for service related to mental health issues. However, we have trained our patrol staff in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), as well as many of our dispatchers and our staff that works in the detention facility. We are also developing a “co-responder” program that will allow for mental health practitioners to handle calls with us and conduct follow-up services when needed.

Should it be easier to take guns out of the hands of people with mental illness who have been deemed a threat to themselves or others?

If someone is an immediate threat to themselves or others, yes. If a person is armed and we take them into custody for a mental health hold, we will take their weapon. However, we'd take any weapon from a person that we take into custody for any reason (a crime, for example). The challenge are those individuals who are becoming an increasing threat to our community, who aren't getting or responding to services.

What will your top priority be, if elected?

We have an aging 32-year-old detention facility that is inefficient and deteriorating. Our staffing in our patrol function must keep up with the increased demand. We must continue our work in helping solve the mental health crisis in our community through programs (co-responders) and training (CIT). As our work is getting more challenging, we must provide the best services and environment possible to ensure our sheriff's office staff is taken care of, too.