$ 00 GLENROCK SINCE 1922 1 THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 NDEPENDENT Volume 95 Number 18 IGLENROCK’S OFFICIAL NEWS SOURCE IN PRINT AND ON THE WEB POWERFUL PENDANTS Phil Harnden photo The Glenrock Police Department recently invested in goods that Chief Tim Hurd said will help begin to turn the idea of community policing into a reality. Chief to begin major community policing effort Hurd: ‘This is proactive policing’ By Nick Balatsos Eventually, he ended up mov- [email protected] ing to the Monroe County Sher- iff’s Office. And his sheriff start- Tim Hurd started his career as ed to push the idea of community a hardened police officer. On the policing — that is, policing that midnight shift in Florida, he went encourages community partner- to call after call, making arrest ships to help solve problems after arrest. instead of just reacting to them. There wasn’t Initially, he wasn’t very op- much time timistic. for anything “This isn’t going to work,” he else. He remembers thinking. “The public says, back doesn’t care.” then, re- But he was wrong. And he sponding to admits it. high crime, “I screwed up,” he says. “I it was almost TIM spent years fighting it, just be- as if he were HURD ing the cop who wants to arrest a robot. people.” “I remember working a hor- In the end, it was the idea rible, horrible area, where 10 that changed the world of law percent of the people made life enforcement for him. miserable for the other 90 percent As he engaged with the public, — I always wondered if anything early on helping to turn a blighted could be done to make a differ- area into a park with other of- ence,” Hurd says. ficers, he quickly realized that “At the same time, you were he not only enjoyed the job more always so busy going from call but that it worked. Crime was to call … You didn’t have time going down. to talk to the public. All you were Years later, in Alabama, he Robin Meyers demonstrates her home- doing is reacting to crime.” said there was another defining made jewelry which incorporates The job was taxing. And not moment when he realized that. spent shell casings. Some of her cre- very rewarding. If something After building trustworthy didn’t give, he was bound to ations use shells from first hunts or 21- burn out. gun salutes from military ceremonies. “I hated it … Anything Please see GPD, Her work is available at the Glenrock would’ve been better,” he laughs. page A-2 Spring Shoppe. SEWELL SIGNS Suspect ID’ed in Douglas bank robbery By Spike Jordan nesses’ identification in a line up. displayed it. The amount of money he took [email protected] Mathis was taken into custody Monday af- was not being released by police. ternoon after he allegedly robbed Points West Points West Vice President in Douglas Law enforcement Tuesday identified Community Bank on East Richards Street at Ron Hayes said his staff was shaken up by the suspect in Monday’s bank robbery and 2:36 p.m. and fled, first on foot and later in a the ordeal but is doing well. The bank’s lobby ensuing manhunt as Charles Mathis, 52, of vehicle spotted attempting to enter the south remained closed Tuesday but the drive-up Laramie County. Authorities said they are Douglas on-ramp to I-25. Mathis was arrested was open and the bank is expected to resume continuing their investigation and are waiting a short time later without further incident. normal operations Wednesday. for the Converse County Attorney’s Office, in Witnesses inside the bank were asked not “Our staff acted professionally and acted conjunction with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s to comment about the situation, several said. as they’ve been trained, which is what we Office, to file charges. Sketchy information that was made available hope to have happen in a stressful situation, It was unknown Tuesday whether charges indicated the man entered the bank lobby and Former Glenrock star Josie Sewell signs with Montana Western University. Please would be filed in state or federal court. A approached the three tellers on duty when he Please see OBBERY, booking mug shot was not available this week demanded money. Some sources indicated he R page A-2 see B-1 for full story. as authorities are withholding it pending wit- claimed to have a gun but it was unclear if he 307.436.2211 ■ www.glenrockind.com PAGE A-2 I GLENROCK INDEPENDENT I THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 GPD From the Front Page relationships with the commu- ficer-involved shootings, such as nity he was policing — which those involving Michael Brown, sometimes meant shooting hoops Freddie Gray and Tamir Rice. with kids, picking up trash on the “This is proactive policing. sidewalk or shooting the bull over We are trying to teach kids that a coffee with neighbors — he you can come to us, that police would drive down the street, and officers are your friends,” he says. the kids would come up to his car A couple weeks ago, there and give him high-fives. was a moment that seemingly The same kids would also underscored the concept of com- lead him through the woods and munity policing Hurd is trying to show him where stolen items establish. At the last town council were stashed. meeting, June Lythgoe, a cancer “That’s community policing,” survivor, got up to speak about he says. “You get the public in- Relay for Life — and the waning volved in solving the crime, and interest lately. then everyone joins together, and As Lythgoe made the case for it becomes a safer community and supporting a Glenrock team, she a better community.” got a bit long-winded. Council Now that he’s come to members and the mayor politely Glenrock nothing has really attempted to wrap up the public changed for him, except, maybe, comment period. But before Lyth- community policing is even more goe sat down, Hurd, sitting in the of a priority. Recently, he scraped second row, stood up. $3,000 from the department’s “June, how much is the spon- budget to buy police swag for sorship?” he asked. Phillip Harnden photos the community. The purchase “I’m sorry?” Lythgoe said, not Douglas High School prom queen Lauren Collins and king Anthony Pinkerton enter the main included hundreds of police hearing him. activity books and bookbags for “How much does the sponsor- stage Saturday night at the Grand March. Pinkerton is from Rolling Hills. kids, “don’t text and drive” car ship cost?” he repeated. air fresheners for high schoolers, “The sponsorship — the spon- pens and notepads and safety sorships this year start at a much literature for adults over 55. lower rate than they were. One Standing next to the boxes hundred dollars will sponsor a of goods in his office, he says team.” the plan starting next week is to Hurd took out his wallet. Send in the crowns meet with as many students in the “Ma’am, on behalf of the By Cody Tucker Anthony, who lives in Rolling Hills, district as possible. Glenrock Police Department, [email protected] has Down syndrome, but that doesn’t “We’re going to start a major we’d like to sponsor a team. I’ll hold him back. He wrestles for the blitz before school lets out,” he give you a hundred dollars right nthony Pinkerton knew all Bearcats, competes in track and field says. now,” Hurd said, handing Lyth- week there was a possibil- and even competes in power lifting for The idea, he says, is to start to goe, who was beside herself, a ity that his name could be the Special Olympics. build trust early on by handing crisp Benjamin. called. The smile rarely leaves his face, but out the goods and talking to kids. “Oh my god!” Lythgoe said. But it certainly wasn’t expected. ever since Saturday, it’s been a little He thinks those relationships are “Thank you so much.” A especially important for police in Everyone clapped. And the The senior was just excited to dance wider. Not to mention he is now sporting the night away and spend time with some new head wear — a king’s crown. the aftermath of high-profile of- two hugged. friends at his last high school dance. “He slept with it the first night,” Then, it happened. his mom laughed. “He even wore it to “Your 2016 prom king is . Anthony school today and church on Sunday.” Pinkerton!” His Queen was pretty impressed, too. Courtesy photo “He was so excited,” his mother “He is the sweetest boy,” junior Shannon Pinkerton said. “The moment Lauren Collins said. “He deserved that DHS Prom King Anthony Pinkerton they even announced that he was nomi- crown and I was beyond honored to (above) lies in bed with his crown on nated, he called me from school he was win it with him. It was an awesome so excited. experience.” Saturday night at his home in Rolling Peak View “Douglas has been amazing with Anthony is the son of Troy and Shan- Hills. His brother, Joey Pinkerton (left), Nutritional Center these kids.” non Pinkerton. didn’t seem to mind the new head wear. 238 North 3rd St. Douglas, Wy 82633 307-624-0182 Robbery From the Front Page Grand Opening to keep things from escalating further than According to a search of court records that he must be smoking something that I they already were,” Hayes said Tuesday.