December Message from Chief Redfearn

Hello, Boulder, and Happy December.

As the colder weather is upon us, I am so excited for all the events, celebrations, and gatherings happening in and around Boulder. The Boulder Star is illuminated, and Pearl Street is abuzz with activity.

Meanwhile, your BPD has been extremely busy keeping the community safe. Looking at the calendar, it's incredible to see that 2024 is almost over. In partnership with our community, I am so proud of the work we've done this year.

One thing I am most proud of is that with the hiring of more than a dozen new officers in early December, we are about to be fully staffed for the first time since at least 2016. We are also fully staffed in our dispatch/911 center, and almost fully staffed in our Records Section. This is so exciting as it will allow us to continue to build upon the great work we started in 2024.

For me, the holiday and the Christmas season cause me to pause and remember being a kid, and just how much I loved Christmas. Something magical happens around this time of year. One of our traditions growing up was to load up into the car, dogs, hot chocolate and all, and spend an evening driving around looking at Christmas lights. To this day, this is a memory I cherish. Even as a kid, it felt like for that night, all was right in the world and our small family was so happy to be together.

As we enter the holiday season, we want to provide some safety tips: always keep your doors and windows locked as many crimes are crimes of opportunity; keep valuables out of sight, both in your car and in your home; if you're having packages delivered, make sure you're home to receive them; park in well-lit areas; and celebrate responsibly when going out with friends and family. During this holiday season, we will also have additional patrols in our shopping areas as well as increased DUI enforcement.

I hope that this season finds you engaged in old traditions, or new traditions being made for the first time. Your BPD will be here if you need us. A big shoutout to all of our staff who will be working throughout the holidays, taking time away from their own families to protect our community.

Wishing everyone a safe, warm, and healthy December.

Steve Redfearn, police chief