Colorado Springs Police Department
| Colorado Springs Police Department | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CSPD |
|
Patch of the Colorado Springs Police Department | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | September 2, 1872 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | City of Colorado Springs in the state of Colorado, USA |
 | |
| Map of Colorado Springs Police Department's jurisdiction. | |
| Size | 186.1 square miles (482 km2) |
| Population | 445,830 |
| General nature | |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters |
705 S Nevada Avenue Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Police Officers | 687 (as of 2008)[1] |
| Civilians | 293 (as of 2008)[1] |
| Agency executive | Peter Carey, Chief of Police |
| Facilities | |
| Stations | 4 |
| Website | |
| CSPD site | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is the central police department for the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado. CSPD is known nationally in the United States for, among other operations, the capture and/or eventual surrender of several members of the Texas Seven.[2]
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.[3]
- Operations Support Bureau - Provides technical and expert assistance to the other two Bureaus. Operations Support has three divisions: Investigations, Metro Vice, and Specialized Enforcement.[4]
- 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).[5]
Rank Structure and Insignia
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Chief of Police |  |
| Deputy Chief |  |
| Commander |  |
| Lieutenant |  |
| Sergeant |  |
| Police Officer/Detective | |
Decorations & Involvement
- April 30, 1888 - Hired first Black officer, Horace Shelby.[6]
- 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 - Though collusion 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 seeing 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]
- 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.[9]
- Department Commendation - Awarded to CSPD employees performing acts that go beyond expected levels of performance and bring credit to the department.[9]
- Life Saving Award - Awarded to any CSPD employee who is directly responsible for the saving of a human life.[9]
- Medal of Valor[10]
- Purple Heart - Awarded to officers who are seriously wounded in combat situations while on duty.[9]
Controversy
The CSPD has met with controversy and protest over several high-profile incidents in recent years.
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.[11]
During the 2007 St. Patrick's Day parade, the CSPD arrested several peace protesters in what was later found 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, and suffered bloody abrasions from the incident.[12]
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. Surviallance 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.[13]
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Colorado Springs Police Department in 1872, a total of 12 officers have died in the line of duty:[14]
| Officer | Date of death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Franklin Bish | |
Gunfire |
| John W. Rowan | |
Gunfire |
| George Kaltenberger | |
Gunfire (accidental) |
| Richard Stanley Burchfield | |
Gunfire |
| Bernard Livingston Carter | |
Aircraft accident |
| Dennis John Ives | |
Vehicular assault |
| Harry Lee Allen,Jr. | |
Struck by vehicle |
| Augustus J. Perreira Jr. | |
Gunfire |
| Mark Layne Dabling | |
Gunfire |
| Jared Scott Jensen | |
Gunfire |
| Kenneth C. Jordan | |
Gunfire |
| Matthew Tyner | |
Vehicle pursuit |
Equipment
Other specialty weapons limited to certain situations.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Colorado Springs Police Department 2008 Fast Facts" (PDF). July 16, 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Colorado Springs Police Department Holds News Conference on Surrender of Remaining Two Texas Fugitives". CNN. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ↑ "Administrative Services Bureau". City of Colorado Springs. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ↑ "Operations Support Bureau". Colorado Springs Police. February 27, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ↑ "Patrol Bureau". Colorado Springs Police. February 27, 2014. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ↑ Colorado Springs City Council Minutes
- 1 2 Colorado Springs Gazette Newspaper
- ↑ Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph Newspaper
- 1 2 3 4 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.
- ↑ "Medal of Valor". City of Colorado Springs. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Noted: News briefs from the Front Range". Colorado Springs Independent. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
- ↑ Burke, Abbie (26 October 2012). "Carrier found guilty on dozens of sex charges". Fox 21 News. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
- ↑ "Honoring All Fallen Members of the...". Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
External links
- Colorado Springs Police Department official site, part of ColoradoSprings.gov
- Colorado Springs Police Protective Association