Larson memorial

A memorial for former Woodland Park Police Chief Robert (Bob) Larson will be held on Oct. 28 from 2-4 p.m. at the Ute pass Cultural Center.

According to a Woodland park Police Department Facebook post, Larson was living with his wife, Chris, in Boyne City, Mich. after relocating following his retirement from the City of Woodland Park in 2015. He has served 36 years with the WPPD and had a law enforcement career spanning 44 years.

Larson was described by those who knew him well as “quiet leadership, inspiration, and wisdom,” the post said.

“While I never had the honor of meeting Chief Larson, I can tell you his footprint in the community and within the history of the police department is deep,” Woodland Park Police Chief Chris Deisler said. “He, nor the legacy he had, will be forgotten.”

Youth advisory council

Woodland Park has launched the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, which will be an official city committee, ultimately comprised of up to nine local students in grades 9-12.

“The mission of the council is to empower Woodland Park High School students to learn, serve and lead through civic engagement and public service, ensuring their voices help shape a thriving, connected community and guide the vision for Woodland Park’s future,” the city said in a press release.

Applications are being accepted through Oct. 17. Students from public, private, charter and homeschools are all eligible to apply. For additional information about the Council, please visit: https://woodlandpark.gov/527/Mayors-Youth-Advisory-Council

Pink patch

The Woodland Police Officers’ Association, in partnership with the Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation, is participating in the Pink Patch Project.

Get your Woodland Police Department pink patch for just $10 (cash only) to show your support for men, women and children battling breast cancer. You can purchase the patches at the police department lobby, 1000 Lincoln Avenue, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Seat belt usage

Preliminary data from the Colorado Department of Transportation’s 2025 Seat Belt Survey shows that Colorado’s seat belt usage rate is 90.7% — the highest ever recorded. This rate is a 2.5% improvement from Colorado’s 2024 seat belt usage rate of 88.2%.

“This is extremely encouraging news,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “We know that seat belts play vital and life-saving roles during crashes.”

As of 2024, the national seat belt usage rate sits at 91.2%, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.