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Week of February 2, 2023
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
LittletonIndependent.net
VOLUME 134 | ISSUE 28
Our in-depth look at the housing crisis
Laurie Halaba becomes first female bureau chief Sheriff Brown leads ceremony BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
middle-income people live where they work. But as cities and towns contend with historically high home costs and a lack of supply, residents like Laney have struggled to live in their communities. “I’ve always felt like I was just passing through instead of living somewhere, putting down roots,” said Laney. He has worked
Moments after making history at the Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office, Laurie Halaba hugged her daughter and wiped away tears. She had just been sworn in as the agency’s newest bureau chief, becoming the first woman to ever hold the position at the Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office. “It’s a little overwhelming,” Halaba said following the Jan. 24 ceremony. “When I started 23 years ago, if you would’ve told me that I would be the first female bureau chief, I would’ve laughed.” As bureau chief, Halaba will command the Public Safety Bureau, which encompasses the patrol operations, special operations and investigation services, the sheriff ’s office said in a statement. She will also oversee the law enforcement contract for the City of Centennial. The previous bureau chief, Glenn Thompson, recently retired. Sheriff Tyler Brown said Halaba was on the radar for the position “probably from about week one that I was here at the sheriff ’s office.” “Laurie is a consummate professional when it comes to (being) a member of command staff. She has been an example for so many, and
SEE PRICES, P16
SEE POLICE, P6
High home prices, lack of supply sever metro residents from communities Low- and middle-income people struggle to live where they work BY ROBERT TANN COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
When Chris Laney moved into his new three-bedroom home last
summer, he felt like he’d won the lottery. After more than a decade of chasing the cheapest rent across the metro area, the Littleton bartender finally has a house to call his own. “I almost feel guilty that I have it,” said Laney, 49. Laney is one of a handful of residents who have secured housing through a subsidized program aimed at helping lower- and
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 13 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
SMALL GOALIE, BIG HEART Emma Preston is ready to impress P25