The Loveland Trust Project - Powered by the Ad Hoc Community Trust Commission

At the June 1, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting, the City Council voted to adopt Ordinance No. 6473 establishing the Ad Hoc Community Trust Commission (CTC). Per Ordinance No. 6473, the Ad-Hoc Community Trust Commission is to give a report once a quarter about the Commissions doings, plan moving forward, and to offer recommendations.

The Community Trust Commission previously gave updates to City Council on January 25, 2022 and April 26, 2022. The commission shared its final recommendations on improving trust between the City of Loveland and the community to City Council on September 20, 2022. Included in the recommendations and presentation are results from the Commission's community survey and a recap of the year's work.

• Download the Final Recommendations Report
• Watch the presentation to City Council on September 20, 2022

What: Recognition of Mr. Rei Mendoza for his moral courage, compassion, and integrity during the Karen Garner arrest in 2020.

Where: Foote Lagoon Amphitheater Loveland Municipal Building 500 E. 3rd Street

When: September 17, 2022 approximately 3:00 pm during Heart & Sol’s Latine Heritage Celebration

Why: Mr. Mendoza witnessed Loveland officers using excessive force against Ms. Garner, a 73 year old woman suffering from dementia. Ms. Garner was injured with a broken arm and traumatized during the arrest and subsequently back at the police station where law enforcement did not call for medical aid to treat her.

Mr. Mendoza pulled his vehicle over and made a verbal complaint to a Loveland Sgt. who was on scene at the arrest. The police sergeant dismissed Mr. Mendoza’s concerns and responded that the officers did nothing wrong and that he could get in trouble for interfering with police activity. Body camera footage showed Mr. Mendoza continuing to try and advocate for Ms. Garner, but was repeatedly dismissed by the Loveland police sergeant.

The CTC is recognizing Mr. Mendoza’s contribution to our community. The courage, compassion, and integrity that was exemplified that day should serve as an example to other residents of Loveland.

Loveland Police Department’s Interim Chief, Eric Stewart will be in attendance and Loveland Mayor, Jacki Marsh will be speaking at the event.

All media outlets are encouraged and welcome to attend and cover this positive event.

Please direct all clarifying questions to CTC Chairperson Sara Mayer at 970-901-2972

Thank you to all who participated in the Community Trust Commission's Trust Survey during the summer. A summary of the results is posted below. The Community Trust Commission will be basing its recommendations to City Council with these results in mind. We appreciate your feedback!

The members of the Ad-Hoc Community Trust Commission (CTC) are volunteers who signed up to serve on this commission because we care deeply about Loveland and want to work toward repairing the relationship between Loveland citizens and the City of Loveland government (the City).

We would like to acknowledge the contribution of many individuals, departments and organizations that have given their time and considerable expertise helping the CTC to understand the inner-workings of the City so that we might better address the issues that contributed to the breakdown in trust and make the best possible recommendations for improvement.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the following:

• Jeffrey Range – Our patient and talented CTC Facilitator who has helped us organize and function.
• Sam Light, Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency (CIRSA) General Counsel for providing an overview of the law enforcement litigation and claims process as well as information about the City’s Insurance coverage and risk management.
• Former Police Chief Robert Ticer for speaking with the CTC and answering our many questions.
• Assistant Chief Ray Butler, Professional Standards Sergeant Brian Bartnes and Lieutenant Jeff Pyle for delivering an in-depth presentation of the Blue Team process and for answering CTC’s many questions about use of force and Blue Team reporting.
• Nicole Yost, Engagement Coordinator and Public Information Officer (PIO) for the City for presenting the Let’s Talk Loveland online platform and what her office can do to help CTC conduct community surveys and town hall-style engagement events. Ms. Yost also worked diligently to create the Loveland Trust Project - CTC’s page on Let’s Talk Loveland.
• Amber Greene and Amy Phillips from the Loveland Public Library for their presentation highlighting the library’s use of the Harwood Process and Presencing Institute’s approach to facilitating community listening sessions.
• Loveland Police Lieutenant Jeff Pyle, Jesse Boyd and Susannah West of SummitStone for their presentation on the Co-responder Program and the Mobile Crisis Program. We were impressed by their commitment to create a great partnership between LPD and SummimtStone.
• Isabel Gwilliam and Chief Randy Lesher of Thompson Valley Emergency Medical Services for their presentation of the Community Assistance Referral and Education Service (CARES) Program.