Get to Know Your Boulder Police Department

Steve Redfearn, police chief

Hello, Boulder, and Happy December.

As the colder weather is upon us, I am so excited for all the events, celebrations, and gatherings happening in and around Boulder. The Boulder Star is illuminated, and Pearl Street is abuzz with activity.

Meanwhile, your BPD has been extremely busy keeping the community safe. We have highlighted numerous positive stories on our social media recently. If you don’t follow us, I highly encourage you to do so. We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, Reddit, Nextdoor, Threads and LinkedIn. Not only can you see many examples of the positive work that’s been going on, but we also use these platforms during emergencies to communicate in a timely fashion. 

A Facebook post about officers arresting a pair of copper wire thieves.

Looking at the calendar, it’s incredible to see that 2024 is almost over. In partnership with our community, I am so proud of the work we’ve done this year. One thing I am most proud of is that with the hiring of more than a dozen new officers in early December, we are about to be fully staffed for the first time since at least 2016.

We are also fully staffed in our dispatch/911 center, and almost fully staffed in our Records Section. This is so exciting as it will allow us to continue to build upon the great work we started in 2024, and to ensure we have the proper staff assigned in the proper areas to keep the community safe and prevent crime and disorder. Please join me in welcoming all our new staff to BPD!

Chief Redfearn swears in the latest recruit class.

The new class poses for a photo after graduation with Chief Redfearn, Commander Clark, Chief of Staff McNiven, Deputy Chief Gosage and Deputy Chief Hartkopp.

For me, the holiday and the Christmas season cause me to pause and remember being a kid, and just how much I loved Christmas. Something magical happens around this time of year, and I always love hearing what traditions people have if they celebrate one of the holidays. We had a couple of traditions growing up that I still cherish to this day, especially when I remember my late dad.

One of them was to load up into the car, dogs, hot chocolate and all, and spend an evening driving around looking at Christmas lights. To this day, this is a memory I cherish. I can remember more than one night when it was snowing and cold—perfect December weather—with my parents driving around Littleton looking at the lights. Even as a kid, it felt like for that night, all was right in the world and our small family was so happy to be together. 

Chief Redfearn celebrating the holidays with his family as a child.

As we enter the holiday season, we want to provide some safety tips for you to consider as you hopefully spend time celebrating and visiting with friends and family. During this holiday season, we will also have additional patrols in our shopping areas as well as increased DUI enforcement. 

We encourage everyone to remember the following safety tips:
•    Always keep your doors and windows locked as many crimes are crimes of opportunity
•    Keep valuables out of sight, both in your car and in your home
•    If you’re having packages delivered, make sure you’re home to receive them or have them delivered to a location out of sight
•    When shopping online, check the website’s security settings
•    Park in well-lit areas
•    Don’t overburden yourself carrying gifts or other items so that you’re distracted
•    Pay attention to your surroundings
•    Keep an emergency supply kit in your car when traveling to be prepared for all types of weather
•    Celebrate responsibly when going out with friends and family.

I hope that this season finds you engaged in old traditions, or new traditions being made for the first time. Regardless, your BPD will be here if you need us. A big shoutout to all of our staff who will be working throughout the holidays, taking time away from their own families to protect our community. If you see them out and about, please thank them for their commitment to keeping our community safe, 24/7/365. 

I am really excited for many new initiatives and endeavors we have planned for next year, and to continue serving this community as your police chief. 

Wishing everyone a safe, warm, and healthy December. 

In partnership,

Steve Redfearn, police chief

Several Boulder public safety leaders recently spoke at the National Marathon and Endurance Events Safety and Security Forum about how they worked together to keep everyone safe during the Bolder Boulder.

The event, which is one of the biggest races in the country, requires months of joint planning among several agencies to include Boulder Police, the University of Colorado Boulder Police, Bolder Boulder officials and the City of Boulder.

BPD’s Watch 1 Commander Mike Heath, who’s in charge of PD Special Events, spoke along with Bolder Boulder Race Director Cliff Bosley, CUPD’s Sgt. Matt Delaria from Emergency Management and Special Events, and Justin Greenstein, Manager of Special Events for the City of Boulder.

Their presentation was called Enhancing Readiness through Partnerships and Exercises and moderated by Jim Bryne, who’s in charge of Emergency Preparedness and Security and Special Events for the City of Fort Collins.

We’re proud to work together so well with all our city partners as well as share important lessons learned to help other communities hold safe and successful events.

They only went on one date but that was enough for the woman to know the man was not the one for her.
Her decision was confirmed when the man continued to contact her after she told him she was no longer interested. He showed up at her work.

He left a note on her front door, drove by and rang the doorbell. She had never told him where she lived.
The next day the woman’s roommate walked downstairs and found the man standing inside their home. She called police and he left.

Officer Conley used every option to locate this man after the first phone call from the victim, but he evaded contact.
However, Officer Conley was able to get the man on the phone and though he refused to say where he was, Officer Conley got a hunch. He heard geese in the background and quickly deduced that the man was at the park near the victim’s home.

He drove there, found his car and waited for the man to return. A short time later the man returned to his car and Officer Conley arrested him on charges of felony stalking and second-degree burglary.

Boulder Police Department home page: bouldercolorado.gov/government/departments/police