Weekly police report shows patrol focus on parks and schools

The Las Animas County sheriff’s blotter released Jan. 12 summarized law enforcement activity for the week of Jan. 5–11 and highlighted a mix of preventive patrols, welfare responses and a string of crimes concentrated in public spaces and residential neighborhoods. The log documents frequent "extra patrol business" at Kit Carson Park, Riverwalk, Cimino Park and downtown, numerous school checks at sites including Fishers Peak School and several welfare checks across the city.

The patrol emphasis on parks and schools is visible in repeated entries for extra patrols at Kit Carson Park and school checks at addresses such as 900 Moores Canyon Road, 1225 Rosita and 1021 Pierce Street. Those preventive actions were accompanied by routine traffic stops, VIN checks and code enforcement calls for vehicles at multiple addresses, suggesting officers devoted time to visibility and property compliance as part of daily operations.

The blotter also recorded a series of assaults and property crimes over the period. Assaults were logged at 120 Fisher Drive, 712 E First Street, 200 N Linden Avenue, the roundabout near Nevada and 1517 N Linden Avenue. Property offenses included a burglary at 9960 Santa Fe Trail, an auto theft in the 900 block of San Juan, thefts reported at 1102 Garfield and a two-vehicle accident with no injuries at 1401 Santa Fe Trail. Law enforcement also made a warrant arrest on Cedar and handled a vice drugs call at the same street, while officers conducted follow-up investigations at locations such as Jolly Towing and Exit 13B.

Beyond crime-specific entries, the blotter shows repeated welfare checks at addresses including 201 Raton, 33 Legacy Lane and 10301 Santa Fe Trail, along with animal control calls and an animal trap call on Pine. These entries point to a steady workload that spans public safety, community welfare and municipal code enforcement.

For residents, the log underscores where patrol resources are being used and where safety concerns have clustered. Visible extra patrols and school checks can reassure families, but the blotter’s mix of assaults, vehicle crimes and welfare responses also signals ongoing community needs—particularly coordination between law enforcement and social services. The frequency of code vehicle and vehicle-related calls suggests chronic parking or abandoned-vehicle issues that affect neighborhoods and downtown commerce.

Policy implications include decisions about staffing levels, allocation between proactive patrols and investigative follow-up, and investment in social supports that might reduce repeated welfare calls. Civic engagement matters: bringing these patterns to county commission or sheriff’s office meetings will shape budget priorities and public safety strategies. As the county moves through budget and oversight discussions in coming months, residents should weigh visible policing against complementary investments in mental health, housing stability and community outreach to address underlying causes of repeat calls.