Today we celebrate Flag Day and the symbol that has represented our nation through triumph, sacrifice, challenge, and unity for nearly 250 years. The American flag is more than a piece of fabric. It represents the freedoms we enjoy, the service of those who defend them, and the communities we work to strengthen every day. At the Durango Police Department, we are proud to serve under the Stars and Stripes and alongside the people who make our community such a special place to call home. Flag Day is an opportunity to reflect on the values our flag represents and to honor the generations of Americans who have served, sacrificed, and helped build our nation. We encourage everyone to take a moment today to learn about the history of our flag, display it proudly, and reflect on what it means to be part of our community and country. Happy Flag Day from the Durango Police Department. 🇺🇸 Protect • Serve • Care 🇺🇸 #FlagDay #durangopd #durangocolorado #protectservecare #OneDurango

Today was gun destruction day. The Durango Police Department recently conveyed 128 firearms for destruction by pulverization through GunBusters Firearms Pulverizer. These firearms came from adjudicated cases, seized weapons, and surrendered firearms that were legally cleared for destruction. So, what happens to firearms once a case is resolved, a court orders destruction, or a weapon is surrendered and no longer needs to remain in evidence? A lot of careful work happens long before destruction day. Every firearm must be properly documented, tracked, reviewed, and cleared before it can be destroyed. That process protects the integrity of criminal cases, ensures legal requirements are met, and maintains accountability for every item in our custody. This effort was led by our Property and Evidence Team, with valuable assistance from our intern, whose hard work helped prepare and verify the firearms for this event. Gun destruction events like this serve several important purposes: They help ensure firearms from closed cases or surrendered property do not return to circulation. They reduce the risk of weapons being stolen, misused, or improperly transferred. They also help law enforcement agencies responsibly manage evidence storage, maintain accurate inventory, and recycle materials when possible. We are grateful for the behind-the-scenes work of our Property and Evidence personnel. Their attention to detail is critical to public safety, case integrity, and responsible stewardship of property entrusted to the Durango Police Department. 128 firearms destroyed. 128 firearms permanently removed from circulation. Thank you to our Property and Evidence Team and our intern for their dedication to this important work. #DurangoPD #PublicSafety #PropertyAndEvidence #GunDestruction #ResponsiblePolicing #CommunitySafety

POV: the forest is watching you. Ranger Tosh may need a refresher on outdoor etiquette. Join The Rangers for the final Ranger Series class on Outdoor Etiquette. We’ll cover campsite setup, bathroom practices in the wilderness, trash, food storage, wildlife, noise, water sources, and how small choices can have a big impact outdoors. Thursday, June 11 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Durango Parks and Recreation Center This class is free and open to all ages. Come learn how to enjoy the outdoors without trashing the place everyone else came to enjoy, too. #POV #povvideo #POVComedy #RangerSeries #OutdoorEtiquette #LeaveNoTrace #packitinpackitout #RespectWildlife #durangocolorado #coloradooutdoors #durangopd

Drone technology helped first responders make faster, smarter decisions during a rescue on Smelter Mountain this morning. Durango Police Department’s drone was used to assist the Durango Fire Protection District after an injured paraglider was reported in a difficult-to-access area near the Smelter Mountain paragliding launch. The location presented an immediate challenge: the patient was up the mountain, blocked by a locked gate, where traditional emergency vehicles could not quickly reach him. Rather than sending crews in blind or immediately escalating to a full Search and Rescue response, the drone was launched to help locate the patient and assess the situation from above. The drone gave Durango Fire real-time visual information, helping responders confirm the patient’s location, evaluate his condition, and determine what level of care and equipment needed to be sent up the mountain. That information helped streamline the response. Search and Rescue was initially considered, but responders ultimately reached and extricated the patient without a prolonged rescue operation. This is exactly why drone technology matters in public safety. It allows first responders to quickly gather information, reduce risk to personnel, and get the right help to the right place faster. Great teamwork by Durango Fire, dispatch, and responding personnel. #DurangoPD #DurangoFire #PublicSafety #DroneProgram #FirstResponders #SmelterMountain #OneDurango

A rattlesnake bite is serious, but it is not automatically a death sentence. The key is to stay calm and get help fast. If you or your dog is bitten, do not: • Try to suck out the venom • Put ice on the bite • Cut over the fang marks • Use a tight band or tourniquet Instead: • Keep the person or dog calm and still • Remove tight clothing, jewelry, collars, leashes, or harnesses near the bite area • Keep the bite area clean • Get to a veterinary office or hospital as soon as possible For dogs, call your vet or an emergency vet right away and let them know you are coming in for a possible snake bite. For people, seek medical care immediately. Stay aware. Watch where you step. Watch where your dog sniffs. Give rattlesnakes space. #DurangoCO #DurangoColorado #LaPlataCounty #SouthwestColorado #FourCorners #RattlesnakeSafety #PetSafety #DogSafety #DogParkSafety #OutdoorSafety #OneDurango

🚗 Vehicle thefts are up in Durango — and many are preventable. So far in 2026, Durango has had 23 stolen vehicles reported, compared to 16 this time last year. April rose from 2 to 7, and May is already at 7. Many cases involved unlocked vehicles or keys left inside. Help prevent auto theft: 🔒 Lock it 🔑 Take your keys 👀 Hide valuables 💡 Park in well-lit areas 📞 Report suspicious activity DPD has about 30 free steering wheel locks while supplies last. Stop by and pick one up.

The singing may be optional. The first aid skills are not. Join Ranger Tosh for the next Ranger Series class on Outdoor First Aid. This free class covers basic splinting and bandaging in outdoor environments, and it’s a must for anyone who hikes, camps, bikes, fishes, or spends time outdoors. Thursday, May 28 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Durango Rec Center Free and open to all ages. Bring your questions. Bring a friend. Come learn how to be better prepared when the unexpected happens outdoors. #RangerSeries #OutdoorFirstAid #OutdoorSafety #FirstAidSkills #TheOfficeCPRScene #StayinAlive #DurangoPD #ColoradoOutdoors

Today, we pause to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten. In observance of Memorial Day, the Durango Police Department lobby will be closed today, Monday, May 25, and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26, during regular business hours. As always, officers remain on duty. For emergencies, call 911. We wish our community a safe and reflective Memorial Day.

Do not be Mango. Random berries are not trail snacks. Join Ranger Tosh and Ranger Mango for the next Ranger Series class on Edible Plants of the Southwest. You’ll learn which plants may be safe to identify, which plants to avoid, and why guessing in the wilderness is a terrible plan. This class is free and open to all ages. Thursday, May 21 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Durango Rec Center Bring your questions. Bring a friend. Please do not bring unidentified berries.

The Durango Police Department lobby will be closed Tuesday, May 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for a City employee event. The lobby will reopen at 2:30 p.m. Thank you for your understanding.

Durango Police Department Animal Control Rangers want to remind our community to take tick prevention seriously. The La Plata County Humane Society is seeing a significant increase in ticks on the animals it serves. That means now is the time to protect your pets and know what to watch for. Ticks can spread disease to people and animals. Prevention matters. What you can do: • Talk to your veterinarian about preventative tick treatment for your pets • Check your pets, yourself, your children, clothing, and gear after being outside • Use EPA-registered tick repellent on exposed skin • Wear light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot • Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants when walking through brush or tall grass • Stay near the center of trails • Avoid sitting on logs, rocks, or bare ground in tick habitat • Shower soon after coming indoors • Place exposed clothing in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes If you find a tick: • Use fine-tipped tweezers • Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible • Pull straight up with steady pressure • Do not twist, crush, or jerk the tick • Wash the bite area and your hands • Save the tick in a sealed bag or container if testing or identification is needed Watch for flu-like symptoms after a tick bite, including fever, headache, chills, fatigue, muscle or joint pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Symptoms can vary, and rashes do not always appear. Protect yourself. Protect your pets. Check for ticks every time you come back inside.

SCAM ALERT This scam is now showing up in Colorado and has also been reported in Arizona. If you receive a text with a photo like this, or something similar, do not scan the QR code. Do not click links. Do not give out personal or payment information. This is not an official court document. These scam texts usually include little to no information in the message itself. The attached “notice” is fake and is designed to scare you into paying quickly. Scammers count on fear, urgency, and confusion. Don’t give them your money. Please share this with your loved ones and friends, even the ones you only keep around for entertainment. We don’t want anyone falling victim to this scam. If you are unsure whether a message is legitimate, contact your local law enforcement agency or the court directly using a verified phone number. Do not use the contact information provided in the suspicious message.

Thank you, Durango. On April 25, the Durango Police Department hosted the DEA Drug Take Back event at the Police Department and the Sub Station. Together, we collected: • 215.20 pounds of unused medications • 14 boxes of medications • 4 full boxes of food and hygiene products for Manna This beat our previous record of 162.6 pounds collected in 2021. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this event happen, including PSTs Gunn, Hanson-Riley, and Smith; Sgt. Cunningham; Commanders Newman, Dunlop, and Stasi; Julie; Lana; Jonathan; Nate; Officer Coleman; property and Evidence Team, Amelia Aguilar and Kim Wall; and the Community Events Team. Thank you to every community member who stopped by to safely dispose of medications or donate items to support Manna. What we do makes a difference.

Deer may look peaceful, but they are still wild animals with hooves, attitude, and absolutely no customer service training. Watch for these red flags: • Stomping or pawing the ground • Snorting, huffing, or blowing air • Ears pinned back • Head lowered • Stiff body posture • Direct staring • Refusing to move away • Following or circling you If a deer starts acting like it wants to speak to the manager, back away slowly. Do not run. Put distance and a barrier between you and the deer. Keep dogs leashed and away from deer. Dogs can trigger defensive behavior, especially during fawn season or rut. Never approach, feed, or try to touch wildlife. Give deer space. It protects you, your pets, and your dignity.

Ready for a career that demands character, discipline, and commitment? The Durango Police Department is accepting applications now. Trainee and lateral officers are welcome to apply. Testing dates: • May 2, 8 a.m. to noon • May 12, 6 to 10 p.m. The process starts with the physical assessment at Escalante Middle School. Written testing follows at the Ironwood Training Center. Apply now: governmentjobs.com/careers/d… If you want to serve, lead, and make a difference, apply today.

Leash up at Dalla Mountain Park. This is not an off-leash area. Dogs must be on leash at all times because Dalla Mountain Park is within Durango city limits. The signs are posted at the trailhead. The rules are simple: ° Keep your dog on a leash ° Pick up after your dog ° Help protect the park for everyone Dalla Mountain Park is a popular place for hiking, biking, and climbing. Following the leash rule helps keep visitors, pets, wildlife, and trails safer. Please do your part every time you visit.

Today, Wednesday, April 22, 2026, we recognize and thank the Durango Police Department’s Administrative Professional Staff. Their work keeps this department organized, responsive, and moving every day. They support our team, help serve our community, and play a critical role in our daily operations. To honor them, the DPD lobby will close at 2:00 p.m. today. Please join us in thanking our Administrative Professional Staff for all they do.

Durango Police update on the Automated Speed Enforcement Camera project: • Warning phase began April 13 • Warnings will be issued for 30 days • Live enforcement begins May 12 The goal is simple: reduce dangerous speeding and improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.

Bikes: great. Bike racks: useful. Calling us “DoPo”: still under review. The Herald’s story started with a reader asking why so many plates seem to disappear behind bikes, cargo boxes, mud, and snow. It is a fair question. Obscuring your license plate is a violation in Colorado. If your plate is covered by fun like bikes, mud, or snow, we get it. But covers designed to obscure your plate are a no-go. Could you get stopped? Yes. If that is the only issue, you are probably not bringing the most exciting case to our shift. We have bigger fish to fry.

This week, Durango Police proudly recognizes the dedicated telecommunicators of the Durango Emergency Communications Center during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12–18, 2026, as designated by APCO International. Our dispatchers are the steady voice amid chaos. They answer calls for help, gather critical information, provide reassurance, and help connect first responders to the people who need them most. Their work is demanding, fast-moving, and often unseen, but its impact is felt every single day across our community. We are grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and calm our telecommunicators bring to every call. Their service matters. Their commitment matters. And this week, we proudly thank them for all they do. Please join us in showing appreciation for the voices behind the headset. #NationalPublicSafetyTelecommunicatorsWeek #TelecommunicatorWeek #Dispatchers #PublicSafety #durangopd