Center police chief wants to engage community

By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER— Newly appointed Center Police Chief Tristan Van Zalinge hopes to bring the community together to help police with tips on crime investigations and form a citizens’ group to provide input from the community.
Van Zalinge plans to conduct field interviews to move drug and burglary investigations forward and create a Citizens’ Advisory Board to better guide and inform law enforcement in Center.
“We want to attract a variety of people [for the board] with different ideas, so we know what is going on,” Van Zalinge said. He also hopes to recruit Center residents to attend Crimestoppers meetings in Monte Vista and encourages all Valley residents to become involved in the meetings.
“We need to create a partnership with everyone in the community to help address crime, especially violent crime,” Van Zalinge emphasized. “If you see something, say something.” He wants the community to know he intends to serve in a fair, impartial, consistent and transparent way. “We have a diverse community to look out for and I will strive to serve with honesty and integrity,” he promised.
Van Zalinge said that since he has become chief, there are still some things “behind the times” he has changed around, such as the town’s reporting system and case filing arrangement. “We’ve started an e-filing system to save time, energy and travel,” he reported. This also streamlines evidence filing procedures.
“We can check evidence and search warrants in more quickly and when we work with the District Attorney, it is easier for [officers] to look at and process,” Van Zalinge explained. “Reports will be reviewed by myself and Sgt. Tim Arellano to make sure they are correct — reports can make or break a case.” Cameras will help in the process, Van Zalinge noted, and officers also will receive some additional training.
Recently Center Town Administrator Brian Lujan had asked the town board to reconsider purchasing a drug dog for Center, but Van Zalinge says that is on hold for now until the Colorado Supreme Court resolves issues regarding probable cause. He commented, however, that drug dogs in Monte Vista have helped solve cases there. In the past Center residents have lobbied for a drug dog, but the board voted against financing the venture.
Including Van Zalinge, there are now seven officers serving on the Center Police force. These are: Sgt. Tim Arellano, officers Boyd Wheelwright, Billy Garcia, Aaron Fresquez, Edie Guadarama and Michael Ruybal. Van Zalinge says he hopes to be able to receive funding from the town for an eighth position.