Boulder names new police chief

DENVER (KDVR) — Stephen Redfearn will be Boulder Police Department’s next chief after serving in the position on an interim basis since January.

Redfearn was first appointed after former Police Chief Maris Herold took a job with the U.S. Department of Justice Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab.

According to a release from Boulder City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, Redfearn has been in policing-related public service for more than 25 years. He worked in Aurora for a portion of that time and was part of the police department’s team that responded to the shooting at the Century 16 Theatre and was a captain there when Elijah McClain was killed.

“I admire Steve’s courage and integrity in standing up for what is right. He has demonstrated that accountability matters,” Rivera-Vandermyde said. “This includes remaining open and reflecting deeply in the midst of criticism, which at times as been vitriolic and personal, as well as taking concrete steps to address policing protocols that can lead to community distrust. During his time in Boulder, Steve has stood steadfastly as a supporter of reform, and I am proud to name him as our next chief.”

In 2021, he moved to the Boulder Police Department.

“I am honored to be able to lead the talented officers and employees of the Boulder Police Department as we work collaboratively and pro-actively with our community to make policing equitable and effective in its core mission. We often think about our role ‘to protect and serve,’ but we also have an opportunity and an obligation to prevent harm,” Redfearn said. “We’ll do this through a re-evaluation of our policies, best-practices training, a focus on employee well-being, and absolutely, a renewed commitment to engaging with community. That is what policing is about.”

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