Colorado Springs Police Department

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is the police department for the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado. CSPD was involved in the capture and surrender of several members of the Texas Seven.[4]

Colorado Springs Police Department
AbbreviationCSPD
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 2, 1872
Employees995 (2020)
Annual budget$141 million (2020)[1]
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionColorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Map of Colorado Springs Police Department's jurisdiction.
Size186.1 square miles (482 km2)
Population472,666 (2018)
General nature
Operational structure
Headquarters705 S Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Police Officers687 (as of 2008)[2]
Civilians293 (as of 2008)[2]
Agency executive
  • Vince Niski, Chief of Police [3]
Facilities
Stations4
Website
CSPD site

Organization[5]

The CSPD is headed by the chief of police, who presides directly over three bureaus (each headed by a deputy chief) and two sections.

  • Operations Support Bureau - Operations Support has three divisions: Public Safety Communications Division, Management Services, and Professional Standards.
  • Patrol Operations Bureau - Patrol Operations has four divisions: Falcon (northwest), Gold Hill (southwest, includes the downtown Peak Station), Sand Creek (southeast), and Stetson Hills (northeast).
  • Investigative & Special Operations Bureau - Investigative & Special Operations has three divisions: Investigations; Metro Vice, Narcotics, and Intelligence; and Specialized Enforcement.
  • Human Resources Section- Human Resources includes four units.
  • Fiscal Services Section

Rank structure and insignia
Title Insignia
Chief of police
Deputy chief
Commander
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Police officer/Detective

Command Staff

All positions are presented true on the Colorado Springs Police Department website.[6]

  • Police Chief Vince Niski
    • Deputy Chief Mark Smith - Operations Support Bureau
      • Communications Manager Renee Henshaw - Communications Center
      • Commander Brian Makofske - Management Services Division
      • Commander Mike Velasquez - Professional Standards Division
    • Deputy Chief Pat Rigdon - Investigative & Special Operations Bureau
      • Commander Sean Mandel - Investigations Division
      • Commander Scott Whittington - Metro Vice, Narcotics, Intelligence Division
      • Commander Jeff Strossner - Specialized Enforcement Division
    • Deputy Chief Adrian Vasquez - Patrol Operations Bureau
      • Commander Tish Olszewski - Falcon Division
      • Commander Jeff Jensen - Gold Hill Division
      • Commander Dave Edmondson - Sand Creek Division
      • Commander Mary Rosenoff - Stetson Hills Division

Significant events
  • December 1904 - Identified a homicide victim, Bessie Bouton, through the use of dental records - first time this was done in the U.S.[7]
  • 1923 - Through collaboration of U.S. Assistant Attorney Rush Holland and Colorado Springs Police Chief Hugh D. Harper, were successful in transferring 50,000 fingerprint files from the International Association of Chiefs of Police and government fingerprint files being kept at Leavenworth Federal Prison to the Bureau of Investigation, thereby leading to the beginning of the first lab of the FBI.[7]
  • April 1954 - Colorado Springs Police Chief Irvin B. "Dad" Bruce was sent to West Germany and West Berlin by the U.S. State Department, to assist in the organization of the police departments.[8]

Department Awards[9]
  • Citizens Award of Appreciation - Awarded to members of the general Colorado Springs public (not police officers) who have assisted police or performed heroic acts in order to help prevent or stop criminal activity.[10]
  • Civilian of Distinction Award
  • Distinguished Service Award -
  • Medal of Valor Award -
  • Medal of Honor Award -
  • Police Star Award -
  • Department Commendation - Awarded to CSPD employees performing acts that go beyond expected levels of performance and bring credit to the department.[10]
  • Life Saving Award - Awarded to any CSPD employee who is directly responsible for the saving of a human life.[10]
  • Purple Heart Award - Awarded to officers seriously or fatally wounded while on duty.[10]
  • Police Award -

Fallen Officers[11]

Since the establishment of the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1872, 13 officers have died in the line of duty. 6 of those officers were confirmed as being victims of crime, 6 died from accidents not related to criminal behavior or intent and one death is still unsolved and that officer was shot to death, no information or leads were ever found or publicized.[12]

  1. Benjamin Franklin Bish, End Of Watch June 28, 1896
  2. John William Rowan, End Of Watch September 13, 1918
  3. George Kaltenberger, Sr., End Of Watch June 12, 1941
  4. Richard Stanley Burchfield, End Of Watch November 26, 1953
  5. Bernard Livingston Carter, End Of Watch May 14, 1975
  6. Dennis John Ives, End Of Watch August 7, 1975
  7. Harry Lee Allen, End Of Watch December 22, 1975
  8. Agustus Joseph Perreira, Jr., End Of Watch April 12, 1980
  9. Michael Francis Hurley, End Of Watch March 27, 1981
  10. Mark Layne Dabling, End Of Watch December 6, 1982  
  11. Jared Scott Jensen, End Of Watch February 22, 2006
  12. Kenneth Chua Jordan, End Of Watch December 5, 2006
  13. Matthew Robert Tyner, End Of Watch July 24, 2012

Controversy

In 2002, the Colorado chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union revealed that, in conjunction with the Denver Police Department, Colorado Springs police had been spying on residents involved in nonviolent protest activity.[13]

During the 2007 St. Patrick's Day parade, the CSPD arrested seven peace protesters in what was later alleged to be a brutal incident. All of the protesters were senior citizens. One of them, Elizabeth Fineron, was 66 and walked with the assistance of a cane. Ms. Fineron was dragged by police across the street after lying down in the road and refusing to move from the parade route, and suffered bloody abrasions from the incident.[14]

In September 2011, two CSPD officers issued a citation to Hooters and charged a 19-year-old waitress with a misdemeanor for giving alcohol to intoxicated customers. However, further investigation revealed that the officers had ordered beers and had visited two bars prior. Surveillance cameras also revealed that the customers do not appear intoxicated and able to walk without trouble. As a result, the case against the restaurant and waitress was dismissed. CSPD has denied the allegations, but Mayor Steve Bach has ordered an investigation into the officers' conduct.[15]

In October 2012, Officer Josh Carrier was found guilty of 34 counts of molesting boys at a middle school where he acted as a wrestling coach.[16]

In December 2017, a woman helped save the life of a man who had overdosed by guiding another woman to give CPR and she also called 911. After giving her details as a witness, she asked for the police officer's name and badge but instead was forcibly pushed away from the scene. When she asked for a supervisor she was then arrested and cited for a misdemeanor.[17]

Equipment

Other specialty weapons limited to certain situations.

See also

References
  1. Sullivan, Carl; Baranauckas, Carla (June 26, 2020). "Here's how much money goes to police departments in largest cities across the U.S." USA Today. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  2. "Colorado Springs Police Department 2008 Fast Facts" (PDF). July 16, 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  3. "Vince Niski officially sworn in as Colorado Springs Police Chief". KOAA News Channel 13. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  4. "Colorado Springs Police Department Holds News Conference on Surrender of Remaining Two Texas Fugitives". CNN. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  5. "CSPD Org Chart 01/10/2020" (PDF).
  6. "CSPD Org Chart" (PDF). ColoradoSprings.gov. Colorado Springs Police Department. January 10, 2020.
  7. Colorado Springs Gazette Newspaper
  8. Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph Newspaper
  9. "Gathered from past recipients list".
  10. Benjamin, Laura (10 June 2012). "Thank You for Your Continued Support!". City of Colorado Springs. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  11. "ColoradoSprings.gov 08/26/2019".
  12. various obtained from Internet websites
  13. "CO Springs Police Conducted Surveillance for Denver ""Spy Files,"" ACLU Reveals" (Press release). American Civil Liberties Union. November 21, 2002. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  14. "Noted: News briefs from the Front Range". Colorado Springs Independent. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  15. "Police Dispute Drinking Allegation At Hooters". CBS Denver 4. 17 April 2008.
  16. Burke, Abbie (26 October 2012). "Carrier found guilty on dozens of sex charges". Fox 21 News. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  17. "Colorado springs woman charged with contempt of cop after saving a stranger from ODing". YouTube.
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