My husband and I have lived in Highlands Ranch for 21 years; we raised our family here and now have young adult children. In all these years of football games, kids playing in the front yard, community parades and just the general interaction in the community we have never experienced any effort on the Douglas County Sheriffs department to develop a relationship between it's officers and the citizens.

The officers don't know our children as, the kid who works on his car all the time, the little girl who wears the sequined shoes or the boy with the cape and cowboy boots. The kids who play hockey in the street or the ones that always have a basketball game going, who rides their bike to work and who just got their drivers license. Who just lost a parent or whose parents are struggling with life in general, the names of the young man or woman who just won a scholarship or got their first job. The first time most officers here ever take an interest in our kids is when they are asking them for their identification.

I decided this year before the primaries to speak to each of the Republican candidates for Sheriff in Douglas County and ask them about their views on the relationship between the department and the citizens as well as other issues.

After a short conversation with Captain John Anderson he asked if my family would like to come down to his place for dinner, I didn't think he was serious so invited him to our home for dinner. He accepted and came over with his family. I couldn't believe that I had a real Captain in my home, just visiting and eating and getting to know each other. The kids were all working but when the youngest arrived home and met Anderson he was immediately at ease with him. Here was a representative of the Douglas County Sheriff's department that was sitting with his parents, who joked around with him and took a real interest, wanted to know about his job and plans for the future. We were able to show him through John Anderson that there are police officers' who really care about the people they serve and risk their lives for. Here was a man who wanted to know the people he serves, even if it was just a two or three of us. I have always taught my kids to respect and honor the men and women who protect them and it's really not been easy. I know there are many officers here who desire the same things that Captain Anderson does, to have the trust and respect of the citizens. For each side to recognize the other as just like themselves, interesting and struggling for the most part to do the right thing by each other and their community.

That night my family felt like this was the small town that we had longed for when we moved here 21 years ago. If you want to know more about John Anderson, maybe have dinner with him, his website is http://www.electjka.com/

Stacy Clark

9253 Montrose way

Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

303.791.2786

Editor's note: Clickherefor a response to Stacy's article.