Local Veterans Group Honors First Responders, Strengthens Community Support

American Legion Post 1187 held its 38th annual birthday banquet on December 1 at Bear Dance Golf Club in Larkspur, honoring area first responders and presenting awards to members of the Castle Rock Fire Department, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Castle Rock Police Department. The event drew local leaders and public safety officials, including Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, DCSO Sergeant Paul Rogers, Post 1187 Commander Dave Giboo, Post 1187 and DCSO Chaplain Richard Rodriquez, and Castle Rock Town Councilman Tim Dietz, who served as keynote speaker.

Lieutenant Matt Osborn of the Castle Rock Fire Department was named Firefighter of the Year. Osborn is a paramedic at Station 155 and serves as president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4116. The award recognized his support for a fellow firefighter and EMT who was lost last year, and his assistance to the firefighter’s family. Osborn was unable to attend, and Wayne Turner, retired Aurora Fire Department captain and Post 1187 treasurer, accepted the award on his behalf.

Deputy Trent Aronson received the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. A Navy veteran who joined DCSO in 2022, Aronson previously earned a Life Saving Award in California for rescuing an officer exposed to fentanyl. His work in training on officer safety highlights the growing concern among public safety personnel about illicit synthetic opioids and the need for prevention, decontamination protocols and protective equipment.

Officer Adrian Mendez was recognized as the Castle Rock Police Department Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Mendez brings nearly 20 years in law enforcement, including service with the Denver Police Department and multiple units at CRPD. His roles have included patrol, the Realtime Crime Center, the Community Partnership Unit and work as a Homeless Navigator. He is also a Field Training Officer, a firearms and defensive measures instructor, and a member of the Castle Rock Honor Guard.

The banquet served not only to celebrate individual achievement but to spotlight systemic issues that shape public safety and public health across Douglas County. Fentanyl exposure and overdose remain urgent public health threats that affect first responders and residents alike. The loss within the fire department and the visible role of a Homeless Navigator at CRPD point to the intersection of emergency response, behavioral health needs and long term housing instability. Community recognition events such as this can help build support for sustained funding for training, mental health services, harm reduction strategies and cross agency coordination that promote both responder safety and equitable access to services for vulnerable residents.