The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is the central police department for the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado. CSPD was involved in the capture and surrender of several members of the Texas Seven.
Video Colorado Springs Police Department
Organization
The CSPD is headed by the chief of police, who presides directly over three main bureaus (each headed by a deputy chief):
- Administrative Services Bureau - Provides logistical support. Administrative Services has three divisions: Information Services, Management Services, and Professional Standards.
- Operations Support Bureau - Provides technical and expert assistance to the other two Bureaus. Operations Support has three divisions: Investigations, Metro Vice, and Specialized Enforcement.
- Patrol Bureau - Responsible for routine patrol routes. Patrol is broken into four command areas, each representing a section of the city: Falcon Area (northwest), Gold Hill Area (central and southwest), Sand Creek Area (southeast), and Stetson Hills Area (northeast).
Maps Colorado Springs Police Department
Rank structure and insignia
Decorations
- April 30, 1888 - Hired first black officer, Horace Shelby.
- December 1904 - Identified a homicide victim, Bessie Bouton, through the use of dental records - first time this was done in the U.S.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Department Commendation - Awarded to CSPD employees performing acts that go beyond expected levels of performance and bring credit to the department.
- Life Saving Award - Awarded to any CSPD employee who is directly responsible for the saving of a human life.
- Medal of Valor
- Purple Heart - Awarded to officers seriously or fatally wounded while on duty.
Controversy
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.
During the 2007 St. Patrick's Day parade, the CSPD arrested seven peace protesters in what was later alleged to be a somewhat 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.
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.
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.
Fallen officers and Canines
K9 Petra
K9 Petra died from injuries sustained when she fell from a parking garage in the 700 block of South Nevada Avenue while conducting a scent detection training exercise with the Regional Explosives Unit on September 8, 2014. She sustained serious injuries to her back as a result of the fall. She was transported to an emergency veterinarian clinic where she had to be euthanized as a result. Petra had served with the Colorado Springs Police Department for 15 months. She died at the age of 3.
Officer Matthew Robert Tyner
Officer Matt Tyner was killed in a motorcycle crash while pursuing a speeding motorcycle on Austin Bluffs Parkway, at Silver Drive, shortly after 2:30 pm on July 24, 2012. The motorcycle he was pursuing was traveling more than 120 mph in a 45 mph zone. Officer Tyner's motorcycle was traveling at approximately 100 mph when it collided with another vehicle that made a left turn in front of him. The driver of the vehicle that Officer Tyner collided with was not charged. The driver of the motorcycle he was pursuing remains at large. Officer Tyner had served with the Colorado Springs Police Department for 13 years and had previously served with the Kansas City Police Department for six years. He was assigned to the Specialized Enforcement Motorcycle Unit. He is survived by his mother and siblings. He died at 42 years of age.
Officer Kenneth Chua Jordan
Officer Ken Jordan was shot and killed while backing up an officer during a traffic stop of a suspected drunk driver on Fountain Boulevard at 11:15 pm on December 5, 2006. When Officer Jordan and the second backup officer approached the vehicle, the assailant opened fire, fatally wounding Officer Jordan. The other officer returned fire, seriously wounding the suspect. Officer Jordan was transported to Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately one hour later. In December 2008, the suspect pleaded guilty to all charges in connection with Officer Jordan's murder and was sentenced to life in prison, plus 167 years. Officer Jordan had served with the Colorado Springs Police Department for 6 years. He is survived by his parents and sister. He died at 32 years of age.
Detective Jared Scott Jensen
Detective Jared Jensen was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a parolee who was wanted for attempted murder on February 22, 2016. Detective Jensen radioed dispatch that he had spotted the suspect near the intersection of Costilla Street and Hancock Avenue and that he was going to make contact with the suspect. After approaching the suspect, Detective Jensen was shot once in the face. Detective Jensen fell to the ground, and the suspect stood over him and shot him again in the face. Four minutes later citizens called to report a shooting. Responding officers located Detective Jensen on the sidewalk suffering from two gunshot wounds. He was transported to Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was apprehended by FBI and ATF agents following a massive manhunt and was subsequently convicted of second degree murder. On May 5, 2008, he was sentenced to 96 years in prison. Detective Jensen had served with the Colorado Springs Police Department for 3.5 years. He is survived by his wife, parents, brother, sister, two step-brothers, and two step-sisters. One of his brothers also serves with the Colorado Springs Police Department. He died at 30 years of age.
Patrolman Mark L. Dabling
Patrolman Dabling was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on December 6, 1982. Unbeknownst to him, the violator was an escaped prisoner from Florida. The man exited the vehicle through the passenger side door and opened fire on Patrolman Dabling with a .44 caliber sawed-off rifle. The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested on I-25 south of the city. Patrolman Dabling died at the age of 30.
Patrolman Augustus J. Perreira, Jr.
Patrolman Augustus Perreira was shot and killed after stopping at a local convenience store on April 12, 1980. He had entered the store unaware that a disturbance call had just been placed from there. He began to escort a male out of the store when the man stated he was not going to go to jail. The suspect then produced a handgun and shot Patrolman Perreira several times. He was able to return fire, wounding the suspect. The suspect was found guilty by reason of insanity and sent to the Colorado State Hospital where he still remained in 2001.
Investigator Harry Lee Allen
Investigator Harry Allen was struck by a vehicle while investigating the scene of an earlier accident on December 22, 1975 . While taking measurements in the roadway a second vehicle struck him, carrying him 150 feet before he fell to the ground. The driver was convicted of careless and reckless driving and fined $25. Investigator Allen had served with the agency for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and three children. He died at the age of 40.
Patrolman Dennis John Ives
Patrolman Dennis Ives was killed when his police motorcycle was struck by a hit-and-run driver on August 7, 1975. He was en route to assist with a parade assignment. When he failed to appear for his assignment other officers began to search for him. Patrolman Ives and his police motorcycle were located off of I-25 hidden from view.
Pilot Officer Bernard Livingston Carter
Pilot Officer Bernard Carter and a civilian observer were killed in a helicopter crash while assisting with the control of a riot on May 4, 1975. He had radioed in that the riot seemed to be subsiding and that he was going to clear the area. A call came in minutes later that there had been a helicopter crash. Officers arrived on scene and discovered that it was the police helicopter that had crashed. Officer Carter is survived by his wife and five children. He died at the age of 38.
Patrolman Richard Stanley Burchfield
Patrolman Burchfield was shot and killed by unknown subjects during an armed robbery investigation on November 26, 1953. He had been pulled into the investigation of a series of armed robberies and had been checking an area for suspects. He radioed in to dispatch that he was returning to headquarters. A short time later a citizen called and informed officers there was an officer found slumped over his steering wheel near Bijou and El Paso Street. Other officers raced to the scene and found Patrolman Burchfield had been shot to death. The case was never solved.
Detective Sergeant George Kaltenberger
Detective Sergeant Kaltenberger was accidentally shot in the abdomen on June 12, 1941. While at work in the city's police station, now the old City Hall building, Detective Kaltenberger's own .45-caliber automatic dislodged from his holster, fell to the floor, and discharged. He died one day after his 24th anniversary of his appointment to the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Chief of Detectives John W. Rowan
Chief of Detectives John Rowan was shot and killed after he and other officers attempted to arrest several members of the notorious Lewis-Jones Gang on September 13, 1918. He had learned that the gang was headed towards the city and was informed they were at a local gas station. As the officers arrived they were engaged in a shootout and Chief of Detectives Rowan was shot in the head. It is thought that the same men were responsible for the murder of Denver, Colorado, Policeman Luther McMahill the following day, although the identities of Policeman McMahill's killers were never confirmed. Several of the suspects were arrested. Two others were shot and killed in Los Angeles County, California, following a shootout in which Deputy George Van Vliet, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was shot and killed. Chief Rowan was survived by his wife and son. He died at the age of 44.
Officer Benjamin F. Bish
Officer Benjamin Bish was shot and killed while checking an alley between Tejon Street and Cascade Avenue, south of Pikes Peak Avenue, in downtown Colorado Springs on June 28, 1896. During his check he observed two men he believed to be burglarizing nearby businesses. Officer Bish found a revolver in one of the men's pockets and began to escort them out of the alley and towards the police station. The other man then pulled out a concealed handgun from under his coat and shot Officer Bish once in the chest. Although mortally wounded, Officer Bish was able to return fire while laying on the ground. A posse was formed shortly after the incident to search for the suspects. One of the suspects had committed suicide shortly after the incident and the other was arrested and spent the rest of his life in jail. Officer Bish was a veteran of the Colorado State Militia. He died at the age of 33.
Explorer program
The Law Enforcement Explorers Program at the Colorado Springs Police Department is a program that works with teens and young adults (14-20 years of age) by allowing them to interact with law enforcement and other community advisers in a serious, regimented atmosphere where the students can demonstrate their personal initiative. The program offers young adults the opportunity to learn and experience lawful citizenship as they participate side-by-side with certified CSPD Officers in ongoing training and community service projects. To qualify for membership, candidates must be at least 14 1/2 years of age (and under 20), must achieve and maintain a C in school grades and must make a conscientious effort to stay out of trouble. Candidates under 18 years of age must have the approval and cooperation of a parent or guardian.
Explorer Rank Structure
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Equipment
- Smith & Wesson M&P in 9mm
- Remington Model 870
- Remington Model 700
- AR-15
- Heckler & Koch MP7
Other specialty weapons limited to certain situations.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Colorado
- New Life Church shooting
- Homicide Hunter, documentary series on Investigation Discovery featuring retired CSPD homicide detective Joe Kenda
References
External links
- Colorado Springs Police Department official site, part of ColoradoSprings.gov
- Colorado Springs Police Protective Association
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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