Latest news with #KirkWilson
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Lone Tree breaks ground on new justice center as population in the Colorado city projected to double
The City of Lone Tree broke ground on a new justice center on Thursday. It's located east of Interstate 25 off of RidgeGate Parkway. The area is seeing a lot of new development and will also be home to the future High Note Regional Park. Alex Britti In the next decade the City of Lone Tree expects their population to double. It's why they're building a new police department and municipal court to accommodate that growth. "This building's a long time coming, and certainly, I think, well earned by the police department," said Lone Tree Police Chief Kirk Wilson. Wilson says right now the police department is housed in the city municipal building. "We're outgrowing our building, so we're really busting at the seams as far as kind of run out of offices. We run out of cubicle space, parking lot's too small," said Wilson. But now its future home is breaking ground, a 38,000-square-foot justice center in the fast-growing RidgeGate East area. "1995 we formed a city. In 2005 we formed a police department. And in 2025 we're going to build a justice center they both deserve," said Lone Tree City Manager Seth Hoffman, speaking at the groundbreaking event. "As you add new businesses and new apartments and new housing, then you want to be able to have an officer who can patrol those areas. So we really need to expand so we can have an officer in every area of the city all the time," said Wilson. The justice center will feature a more efficient layout for the police department. "It's going to have more state-of-the-art type equipment. It's going to be better equipped for the police department, more room, more space. Seems like we're always fighting for a conference room to have a meeting. Better holding cell area so it's more secure and safe for the officers as well as the prisoners," said Wilson. "Police departments just have a lot of demands on them. So you know, officers have to be social workers and mental health workers and, you know, not to mention, you know, responding to criminal calls." The building will also house Lone Tree's municipal court. "The courthouse is, currently in the in the city council chambers, and that's really not set up for that right? Not proper security, not proper waiting areas, not places, good places for attorneys to meet with their clients," said Wilson. As the community grows, so will the size of the police force. Wilson says they've already increased from about 50 to 60 officers in the last decade. "It's really kind of based on the growth. So we'll keep adding positions. And again, part of that's to expand our ability to patrol in this area, as well as keep our patrols going in the rest of the city," said Wilson. Laying the foundation for Lone Tree's future, the justice center expects to be complete in October of 2026. "It's just an exciting thing for the police department. I think for the officers, it's, you know, generating a sense of pride for them and their city and their police department. I think it's something the city deserves. The citizens deserve to have the best police department, the best police force that we can have, and we certainly want to always provide the same level of service we do today, which, in my opinion, is a platinum level of service for the citizens of Lone Tree," said Wilson. Next month Lone Tree will also break ground on a new public works operations facility which will be housed near the justice center. Together the two projects will cost the city $50 million.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Camouflaged camera found pointed at Lone Tree home possibly targeted by burglars: Police
LONE TREE, Colo. (KDVR) — Lone Tree Police are investigating after a resident in the Heritage Hills neighborhood found a camouflaged camera hidden in a bush and pointed at a specific house. 'It looks clearly like somebody placed it there, camouflaged it for the purpose of doing surveillance on the house that it was pointed at,' Lone Tree Police Chief Kirk Wilson told FOX31. He said this is a new high-tech strategy used by sophisticated burglary rings to watch the homes of their targets. 'I've never seen this level of surveillance being done on a burglary, but this is kind of a nationwide crime trend if you will, and so this is not the first camera that we know has been used. I think there's been others recovered,' Wilson said. Previous: Lone Tree police investigating increase in home burglaries The camera was directed at the home of an Asian business owner. Back in October, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office sent out an alert about a burglary ring targeting the homes of Asian business owners by doing things like placing trackers on their vehicles and hidden cameras in their yards. Losses from those burglaries at the time totaled nearly $1 million. Lone Tree Police are now working to see if this case is connected. 'It's pretty concerning. I know if I was that person with a camera pointed at my house I'd be very, very concerned,' Wilson said. Officers talked with the targeted family about increasing security and plan to continue with increased patrols in the area. Police will get a forensic analysis of the camera and look at video from other homes surveillance systems in the neighborhood. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox 'Please report anything suspicious. Pay attention to your yard and look out for your neighbors,' Wilson said. The department sent a crime alert to local residents and the HOA with the following safety tips included: Have quality security systems working and in place to protect your residence and loved ones. Use known and reputable contractors to perform any work on your house or yard. Have someone check on your home if you are going to be gone for extended periods of time. Use the Lone Tree Police Department's 'House Watch' program for shorter vacations or trips. Know your neighbors and look out for each other. Report any suspicious people or vehicles so police officers can respond to the area and address concerns. If you see someone in your neighborhood wearing a mask, please call 9-1-1. To register your home for a House Watch while on vacation, go to Anyone with information on this case can contact Detective Lori Mohr at 720-509-1225 or at Callers can also remain anonymous by calling the Lone Tree Tip Line at 720-509-1160. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
