2023 Media Releases

CU Boulder Police focus on ethics, role of law enforcement in new training

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 02:23:10 +0000

CU Boulder Police focus on ethics, role of law enforcement in new training Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/24/2023 - 20:23

Stories from the Holocaust form the backdrop to discussions on ethics, bias and integrity in leadership.

In an eye-opening, interactive training, members of the �鶹��Ƶ police department, along with members of several regional police agencies, engaged in "What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust,” a course developed specifically for police in concert with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

The class provided insight into how Germany transformed from a democratic society to one ruled by a totalitarian regime in less than a decade in the years leading to World War II. Visuals, audio clips and in-depth discussion are used to emphasize the importance of safeguarding against a culture shift of protecting individuals to supporting the abuse of human rights.

The course was co-taught by Arizona State University Police Chief Michael Thompson and retired Scottsdale (Arizona) Police lieutenant Todd Larson, EdD. Larson now serves as national director for the What You Do Matters Institute, traveling the country to teach the course primarily to a law enforcement audience.

“Those in policing and the criminal justice system interact with people all day, every day. Our course aims to get them to think about their impact in the community, especially as it pertains to trust," he said. “They have the authority to take away liberty, whether that be freedom or even life. The goal of our course is to emphasize how every interaction with every person matters, so they will think about how critically valuable these interactions are.”

Using posters depicting images and stories from the Holocaust, trained facilitators engage police officers and professional staff in dialogue about the role of police in today’s communities, and the importance of teaching and adhering to a mission of serving with integrity and humility, two of CUPD’s core values.

Residential Service Officer Kara Syvanen said that even though she’s a history buff, it was shocking to have the scale of the Holocaust presented with photos and recordings which emphasized the personal and social toll. “Bearing witness for the purpose of preserving the memory of what happened, partly so justice can eventually be found, is a lot like what officers do, albeit on a smaller scale,” she said.

CU Boulder Police Chief Doreen Jokerst said the training is particularly impactful against the backdrop of current events in the Middle East. “We are thankful for this thought leadership and excellent conversation during these challenging, heartbreaking times,” she said. “CUPD always adheres to a community policing philosophy and this training is a strong reminder of the importance of treating every individual fairly and with respect.”

Anyone in the campus community can watch a short video on the inspiration for the program, which is taught to law enforcement leaders, prosecutors and other criminal justice leaders throughout the nation.

The course, hosted by CUPD and offered to other local police departments, was paid for by a grant from the Colorado Department of Criminal Justice. It helps CUPD meet national accreditation standards by providing continuing education and training in the Duty to Intervene standard, while also supporting CUPD’s code of ethics.

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CU Boulder Police Chief Doreen Jokerst marks five years on the job

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:11:49 +0000

CU Boulder Police Chief Doreen Jokerst marks five years on the job Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/25/2023 - 21:11

A look at challenges, accomplishments and CUPD’s vision for the future

During her five-year tenure as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police at the �鶹��Ƶ, Chief Doreen Jokerst has shepherded her department through a pandemic, nationwide calls to defund police departments and calls for more transparency in police policies and training.

Jokerst notes the challenges of the past five years have provided a platform for progressive, strategic initiatives to enhance public safety efforts at CU Boulder. “I have especially embraced the opportunities to engage more directly with the community we serve. I’m humbled in the trust placed in me to lead CUPD,” she said.

Some highlights from the past half decade:

Inclusive department culture: CUPD’s focus on inclusive culture, progressive training and enhancing department reputation through community outreach is helping us not only attract more applicants but to retain existing officers and professional staff. Jokerst commonly says, “hurt people hurt people'' and she makes it a point to ensure the members of her department feel valued and heard.
National accreditation: CUPD is the first Boulder county police agency to become nationally-accredited, meeting and exceeding national policing standards, while retaining policies and programs unique to the needs of the CU Boulder community.
Progressive training: CUPD has embarked on a comprehensive training schedule, including active bystander training, trauma-informed interview techniques, integrative communications, communicating with people with disabilities and understanding bias.
Community engagement: CUPD regularly engages students, faculty, staff and Boulder community members in a /police/community-outreachvariety of ways, including through the Community Oversight Review Board, which provides the public a way to engage directly with police on policy issues and hiring.
Technology advancements: CUPD has enacted body worn camera technology and policies, as well as a fleet system of cameras within its police vehicles. This provides transparency in interactions between police officers and those they serve. In addition to cameras, CUPD launched interactive crime data dashboards to provide further transparency on its crime prevention efforts and response.
Advancing women in policing: Under Chief Jokerst, CUPD signed the 30x30 pledge to advance the hiring, professional development and retention of women in blue, and encouraged other university police chiefs to do the same.
Assisting the community: CUPD provided support to local law enforcement partners such as Boulder Police Department, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department and others during major critical incidents, such as assisting in response to the King Soopers shooting in March 2021 and providing assistance in response to the Marshall Fire in late December of that year.

Jokerst was appointed to her position on Aug. 24th, 2018 and took the helm of CUPD on Sept. 17th of that year. Prior to that, she spent nearly two decades with the Parker (CO) Police Department, rising up through the ranks from a volunteer cadet at the age of fourteen to police commander.

“Over the past five years, CUPD has been able to innovate, think strategically and reach many goals to benefit those we serve,” said Jokerst. “I could not have been successful without the dedication, teamwork and collaboration of my colleagues at CUPD, the leadership of the university and the continued support and partnership of the community,” she added.

Chief Jokerst is looking ahead, drafting a new five-year strategic plan for the department and continuing CUPD’s commitment to increased community engagement and transparency. She is happy to answer questions from campus community members and members of the broader Boulder community. She can be reached at: Doreen.Jokerst@colorado.edu

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Joint Statement from Boulder County Law Enforcement Agencies on the Death of Tyre Nichols

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 23:36:39 +0000

Joint Statement from Boulder County Law Enforcement Agencies on the Death of Tyre Nichols Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/27/2023 - 16:36

Joint Statement from CU Boulder Police, Boulder Police, Louisville Police, Lafayette Police, Longmont Public Safety, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office

As public servants dedicated to protecting human life, seeking the truth and pursuing justice under the law, we are sickened and disheartened by the actions of the five Memphis police officers and two fire medics involved in the death of Tyre Nichols after a traffic stop earlier this month.

The officers were fired for violating policies that our agencies have in place and hold dear, including those governing excessive use of force, duty to intervene and duty to render aid. We condemn these officers’ actions and continue our ongoing commitment to training our officers in de-escalation, communication and ensuring the sanctity of human life is at the core of every interaction.

We are committed to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards and we hold accountable anyone who violates department policies. For that reason, we have a multi-agency team that conducts independent investigations on use of force incidents in which any law enforcement officer uses deadly or potentially deadly physical force. Boulder County’s team protocol is broader than that required by state law, which is limited to incidents involving the discharge of a firearm by a peace officer that results in injury or death. We are fully committed to investigating and prosecuting criminal acts committed by any person, without fear or favor.

As news of criminal charges against the Memphis officers becomes more widely known and images are shared, we will continue to engage with the community in an open and honest dialogue. We continue to work together to enact reform efforts so everyone in the community, regardless of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation or any other status, feels safe and heard. And we commit to ongoing efforts to increase trust and build relationships.

Please reach out to any of us with concerns or questions.

Signed,

Doreen Jokerst, Chief of Police, CU Boulder Police Department, 303-492-8168

Maris Herold, Chief of Police, Boulder Police Department, 303-441-3333

Jeff Fisher, Interim Chief of Police, Louisville Police Department, 303-335-4635

Rick Bashor, Chief of Police, Lafayette Police Department, 303-665-5571

Zach Ardis, Longmont Public Safety Chief, 303-651-8555

Curtis Johnson, Boulder County Sheriff, 303-441-3600

Michael Dougherty, District Attorney, 20th Judicial District, 303-441-3700

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