Douglas County

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"I did what anyone else would do"

A stranger on a dark sidewalk needed help. Brent Buford didn't hesitate.

Culture

Outside a room packed with nearly 100 people there to celebrate him, Brent Buford wanted no part of the fuss.What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;I did what anyone else would do,&quot; the 68-year-old grandfather said.

Parker is giving its history a second look

A revamped Heritage Center will tell Parker's fuller story.

Parker&#x27;s starting over on how it tells its story.Zoom in: The town spent the past 45 years growing into a destination — a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="72,000-resident" data-vars-click-url="https://www.parkerco.gov/159/About-Parker" data-vars-content-id="2ed51988-ce44-4ad0-8095-7a8de0471090" data-vars-headline="Parker is giving its history a second look" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.parkerco.gov/159/About-Parker" target="_blank">72,000-resident</a> suburb with schools, sprawling trails, ever-developing neighborhoods and a new, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$400+ million Mainstreet transformation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/04/27/parker-downtown-transformation-mainstreet-investment" data-vars-content-id="2ed51988-ce44-4ad0-8095-7a8de0471090" data-vars-headline="Parker is giving its history a second look" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/04/27/parker-downtown-transformation-mainstreet-investment" target="_self">$400+ million Mainstreet transformation</a>.

Boebert's son faces child exploitation charges

Tyler Boebert was released on bond after his Aug. 9 arrest.

News

U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lauren Boebert&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/trump-colorado-water-lauren-boebert" data-vars-content-id="65e54110-ed4f-4472-9cfd-8231f4233c8a" data-vars-headline="Boebert&#x27;s son faces child exploitation charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/01/01/trump-colorado-water-lauren-boebert" target="_self">Lauren Boebert&#x27;s</a> 21-year-old son was arrested over the weekend on felony charges related to the alleged sexual exploitation of a child, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Garfield County Sheriff&#x27;s Office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.garcosheriff.com/arrest-made-for-child-sexual-exploitation-charges/" data-vars-content-id="65e54110-ed4f-4472-9cfd-8231f4233c8a" data-vars-headline="Boebert&#x27;s son faces child exploitation charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.garcosheriff.com/arrest-made-for-child-sexual-exploitation-charges/" target="_blank">Garfield County Sheriff&#x27;s Office</a>.Catch up quick: Tyler Boebert <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="faces" data-vars-click-url="https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/10/colorado-lauren-tyler-boebert-arrested/" data-vars-content-id="65e54110-ed4f-4472-9cfd-8231f4233c8a" data-vars-headline="Boebert&#x27;s son faces child exploitation charges" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/10/colorado-lauren-tyler-boebert-arrested/" target="_blank">faces</a> three felony charges of sexual exploitation of a child, including one alleging intent to &quot;deal in, sell or distribute … any sexually exploitative material&quot; and another involving videotaped material, according to court records.

Flock CEO says DCSO will regret swap

Flock says the sheriff's office always controlled access to its data.

Flock Safety&#x27;s CEO says the Douglas County Sheriff&#x27;s Office is wrong to suggest it doesn&#x27;t own its Flock data before a planned switch to rival Axon.Catch up quick: Douglas County begins a 10-year, nearly $23 million contract with Axon next year, after citing issues over data ownership and other concerns with Flock, including last year&#x27;s Sandstone Ranch Open Space <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="camera exposure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/colorado-news/douglas-county-flock-cam-compromised-leaves-camera-exposed/73-b2a2ce04-ccd5-47e0-a9e1-d64d39855886" data-vars-content-id="57e5b23b-2ea7-449b-b7bd-e9e840e55855" data-vars-headline="Flock CEO says DCSO will regret swap" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/colorado-news/douglas-county-flock-cam-compromised-leaves-camera-exposed/73-b2a2ce04-ccd5-47e0-a9e1-d64d39855886" target="_blank">camera exposure</a>.

DougCo towns pump brakes on drone delivery

Officials want answers on noise, privacy and safety before approving hubs.

Business

Parker and Castle Rock are likely among the nation&#x27;s first municipalities to pause approvals on drone-delivery hubs that launch retail orders from ground facilities into nearby neighborhoods.Why it matters: Back-to-back ordinances passed last week reveal a cautious approach from two fast-growing Douglas County communities better known for competing to attract retail convenience and sales tax dollars.

Douglas County sheriff drops Flock for Axon

The sheriff says privacy concerns and lost trust drove the switch.

The Douglas County Sheriff&#x27;s Office is dumping Flock Safety after Sheriff Darren Weekly said he lost trust in the surveillance technology company.State of play: County commissioners last week approved a nearly $23 million, 10-year contract with Axon, which makes Tasers, body cameras, drones and license plate readers.

Colorado school turns to drones for active-shooter defense

The drones are intended to confront active shooters.

A Sterling Ranch charter opening next month could become Colorado&#x27;s first school to install drones intended to confront active shooters.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="John Adams Academy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jaadougco.org/" data-vars-content-id="d2dfbd65-b455-40d0-8aad-b5f55c8cc9eb" data-vars-headline="Colorado school turns to drones for active-shooter defense" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jaadougco.org/" target="_blank">John Adams Academy</a> is joining a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="growing national experiment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbYKrKmxy6E" data-vars-content-id="d2dfbd65-b455-40d0-8aad-b5f55c8cc9eb" data-vars-headline="Colorado school turns to drones for active-shooter defense" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbYKrKmxy6E" target="_blank">growing national experiment</a> in high-tech school defense with a system called Campus Guardian Angel, which says it can buy police critical time in the early moments of an attack.

Flock on why public safety in Colorado isn't a zero-sum game

Flock Safety explains how safeguards can support more responsible public safety technology.

Partners

Douglas County, Colorado, is offering one example of how local officials can approach public safety technology, including automated license plate readers (LPRs) and Drones as First Responders (DFR), while taking residents&#x27; privacy concerns seriously.Why it&#x27;s important: Flock, a company that produces LPR technology, believes public safety isn&#x27;t a zero-sum game.<ul><li>Clear rules, oversight and transparency can help communities like Douglas County use public safety technology while protecting privacy and civil liberties.</li></ul>

Number of child predator cases stuns investigators

Undercover stings and online decoys are leading to arrests

Douglas County authorities say they use undercover decoys, AI-assisted investigations and sting operations to identify suspected child predators before they reach actual minors.Why it matters: It&#x27;s working.

Inside Castle Rock's cop drone network

Police want wider coverage and the ability to fly multiple drones.

Castle Rock Police are already looking to expand drone coverage across town less than a year after launching their drones-as-first-responders (DFR) program.The latest: The department is planning its next phase, pursuing upgrades that could significantly expand the reach of its drone network.

Douglas County's dwindling dog park drama

DougCo data show just three reported incidents this year.

Dog parks in unincorporated Douglas County have been unusually quiet this year.Why it matters: Contrary to some assumptions, summertime isn&#x27;t prime time for dog park problem around here — which is why our review of incidents is so encouraging.

Public Safety

"I did what anyone else would do"

Boebert's son faces child exploitation charges

Flock CEO says DCSO will regret swap

DougCo towns pump brakes on drone delivery

Douglas County sheriff drops Flock for Axon