2020 News

CU Boulder students participating in CUPD officer hiring process

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 19:21:16 +0000

CU Boulder students participating in CUPD officer hiring process Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/16/2020 - 12:21

Since Chief Jokerst was named the chief of police for the CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) just over two years ago, she has worked to increase the transparency of the department. From body-worn cameras and cameras in the patrol vehicles to creating a recruitment plan that focuses their efforts on making the CUPD workforce more representative of the community they serve, the department continues to become more open with their operations.

CU Boulder student Isaiah Chavous listens to Chief Doreen Jokerst during the commander hiring process. Photo by Carson Becker.

The next step in their process has been the inclusion of CU Boulder students in the hiring process for CUPD police openings. This fall, two students served as a part of community panels during the hiring process; first for police officers and, most recently, for a commander position.

“CUPD is tasked with representing the constituency of our school. As a student, it has been an eye opening experience into the process of how our police leaders are chosen,” said CU student and CUSG Tri-Exec, Isaiah Chavous, who was the first student ever to participate in the hiring of a CUPD command officer. “My hope is that my participation in selecting the new commander will set a precedent of increased student influence and create more space for BIPOC students to promote an equitable environment.”

“I am so grateful for the participation of members of our student body in the hiring steps of our police officers and command staff,” said CU Boulder Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst. “They have provided unique insight in our hiring processes.”

Dr. Kimberly Miller, a consultant to police departments from across the country, was brought in to oversee the recent commander hiring process. She believes that the inclusion of students in the selection process of officers and leaders is important.

“The students are a large part of the community in which the police department serves,” Dr. Miller said. “They add a very important perspective and valuable lens to the hiring process. They look at law enforcement differently than traditional community panels.”

Dr. Miller believes that including students in the hiring process can help build a bridge between law enforcement and that community.

“A college campus environment is different from a city or county environment. The student’s lens has them looking for different things then a traditional citizen participant does.”

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CUPD leads Boulder County law enforcement agencies in lethality assessment training

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:53:37 +0000

CUPD leads Boulder County law enforcement agencies in lethality assessment training Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/18/2020 - 15:53

The CU Boulder Police Department is the first police department in Boulder County and the first college or university police department in the state of Colorado to train in lethality assessments.

A lethality assessment program is an evaluation that can be used to predict the likelihood that an abuser in a domestic violence situation will kill the person they are abusing, allowing law enforcement and their partners to intervene before the situation becomes more violent. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 72% of all murder-suicides involve an intimate partner. Oftentimes, the killers showed indications that they were a threat ahead of time.

“Domestic violence, also known as intimate partner abuse, is happening in all communities and CU is not exempt,” said Jessica Ladd-Webert, director of the CU Boulder Office of Victim Assistance (OVA). “This program can help victims/survivors learn more about the warning signs of domestic violence and also will help connect them to confidential supports like OVA, where they can get advocacy and counseling.”

Providing police officers with lethality assessment training was one of the recommendations that came out of an independent review of actions given to the University of Utah’s Department of Public Safety following the murder of 21-year-old student-athlete Lauren McCluskey in October 2018. McClusky had been in a brief relationship with a person who shot and killed her outside of her residence hall after McClusky ended their relationship. The independent review found that there may have been subtle indicators provided to police officers investigating her case that showed that the suspect may have had the potential to kill McClusky.

The assessment is based on many factors in a domestic violence relationship, some more dangerous than others, that have been proven to be precursors of murder. Oftentimes, the victim is not aware of how much danger they are really in or how to get help.

“We are very proud that our department is leading this effort in Boulder County,” said CU Boulder Police Chief Doreen Jokerst. “Our officers have been trained and have already started to implement the program.”

There are two primary goals of the lethality assessment program: to educate intimate partner violence victims/survivors about risk factors and to connect them with support and safety planning services.

“The District Attorney’s Office applauds the CU Boulder Police Department for helping to identify high-risk incidents of intimate partner violence, which will strengthen our ability to protect the most vulnerable victims,” Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said. “This initiative is consistent with best practices for responding to, and investigating domestic violence cases. We look forward to partnering with CUPD to implement the protocol county-wide and to further enhance the outstanding work of the law enforcement agencies in the fight against intimate partner violence in Boulder County.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic incidents of domestic violence have increased as people are spending more time at home to mitigate the spread of the virus. For people who are experiencing domestic violence this scenario can worsen already toxic or abusive situations. If you have concerns about abuse from a partner, or if you are concerned about a friend's abusive partner, there are many options for reporting, services, and assistance. For more information visit the CU Boulder reporting options webpage. Retaliation for reporting is strictly prohibited. For free and confidential advocacy/counseling please contact CU Boulder’s Office of Victim Assistance (OVA), 303-492-8855. For support, to ask questions about the police process, and/or to report an incident, please contact CUPD at 303-492-6666.

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SAFETY ALERT: Armed robbery near Bear Creek Apartments

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:22:11 +0000

SAFETY ALERT: Armed robbery near Bear Creek Apartments Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/18/2020 - 12:22

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) was notified of a possible armed robbery. The incident took place in front of the Bear Creek Apartments, 3275 Apache Rd. The victim reported that they were meeting someone who was purchasing their video game system when the suspects showed a gun and took the gaming system.

The campus map showing the general area where the incident took place

The suspects were perceived as:

Suspect 1: Hispanic male with short, black hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans

Suspect 2: Black male, wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head, a black mask and a black puffy winter coat.

The suspects are believed to have gotten into a car and left the scene. The car was described as a gold or tan, 4-door, 1980s model sedan with damage to the front bumper.

CUPD is currently investigating the incident. Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact CUPD at (303) 492-6666. If you wish to share information anonymously, information on contacting Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers is available at www.colorado.edu/police/records-reports/anonymous-reporting.

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SAFETY ALERT: Attempted aggravated assault with a vehicle

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 17:21:52 +0000

SAFETY ALERT: Attempted aggravated assault with a vehicle Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/10/2020 - 10:21

On Nov. 10, 2020, at approximately 7:15 a.m., the CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) was notified of a possible aggravated assault with a vehicle. The incident occurred in the parking lot at 1350 20th St. in the area of the Marine Court Apartments. The victim reported seeing the suspect squatting near the victim’s vehicle going to the bathroom. The victim and the suspect got into a verbal altercation. The suspect then entered a pickup truck and the victim backed up onto the sidewalk to give the truck room to leave. The suspect then backed the vehicle up onto the sidewalk toward the victim. The victim believed the suspect was trying to hit him with his vehicle.

The suspect was perceived to be:

a white male in his late 20s
5’9” to 5’11” tall, medium build
Brown hair and brown eyes
Clean shaven with possible acne scars on his face
Wearing a blue jacket with brown pants.

The vehicle was later located in the King Soopers parking lot at 1650 30th St., but the suspect was not located during a search of the area. The vehicle has Texas plates.

CUPD continues to investigate the incident. Anyone with information regarding this crime or the suspect’s location is encouraged to contact CUPD at (303) 492-6666. If you wish to share information anonymously, information on contacting Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers is available at www.colorado.edu/police/records-reports/anonymous-reporting.

This message is being sent pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”), a federal law that requires disclosure of major crime and policy information. For more information on the Clery Act and CU Boulder’s policies, please see www.colorado.edu/clery.

Help fight crime by reporting suspicious persons or activity to CUPD immediately. Please note that race, ethnicity, gender, and/or religious affiliations are not considered the basis for suspicion; only behaviors are considered suspicious.

If you have experienced a traumatic incident, you have options for services and assistance. For free and confidential support please contact CU Boulder’s Office of Victim Assistance (OVA), 303-492-8855. OVA is a resource for those impacted by traumatic experiences as well as for those supporting impacted people.

Screenshot of the back of the suspect and his truck as he is getting in the driver's seat.

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Thank you to CUPD dispatchers

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 22:31:07 +0000

Thank you to CUPD dispatchers Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/04/2020 - 15:31

Who is an emergency services dispatcher? They are the calm voice to the frantic person on the other end of the 911 call. They are the person who is able to quickly determine the type of emergency, the location of the emergency and the type of response that is needed quickly and calmly. They are the unseen partner of the emergency responder providing them with needed information and support, often while sitting alone in a small room in front of a bank of computer screens.

CU Boulder Police has their own dispatch center on campus that answered more than 25,000 phone calls last year. They are a vital link between our community and our public safety services. They answer 911 calls as well as calls for campus parking complaints, open door requests, thefts, vandalism, threats, assaults, trespasses, suspicious persons, vehicles or objects, and requests for information. The dispatchers in the CU Boulder Police communications center are responsible for logging all calls for service for police, fire and medical in the computer aided dispatch (CAD) system and then broadcasting that information to the officers on the streets.

For all of the work that you do as our first, first responders, for the work you do supporting everyone on the radios, and for what you do as that calming voice to our entire community with very little recognition, we are eternally grateful.

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Safety Alert: CUPD investigating attempted robbery

Anonymous — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 06:56:40 +0000

Safety Alert: CUPD investigating attempted robbery Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 10/11/2020 - 00:56

On Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020, the CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD) was notified of a possible attempted robbery.

The alleged crime occurred just before 11 p.m. outside of Bear Creek Apartments #2, 3355 Apache Road, on the CU Boulder campus. The victim reported that they were sitting outside of the building near the bicycle path on the southeast corner of the property when the suspect rode up on a bicycle, pulled a black bandana down from his face and demanded their money. The victim was fearful for their safety and quickly left the area. The victim saw the suspect ride away northbound toward Baseline Road.

No one was injured and nothing was given to the suspect.

The suspect was perceived as:

White male in his late 20s
5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall
Approximately 145-150 pounds
Stubble on his face
Wearing a brown or red hooded sweatshirt

If you have experienced an attempted robbery, you have options for services and assistance. For free and confidential support please contact CU Boulder’s Office of Victim Assistance (OVA), 303-492-8855. OVA is a resource for those impacted by robbery as well as for those supporting impacted people.

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CU Boulder Police seeks national accreditation

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 20:26:47 +0000

CU Boulder Police seeks national accreditation Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/22/2020 - 14:26

In 2019, the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department started the process of becoming a nationally accredited police department through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). By becoming accredited, we are committing to law enforcement excellence by meeting national standards that have been deemed essential to the protection of the life, health, safety, and rights of the citizens it serves and having exemplified the best professional practices in the conduct of its responsibilities.

“Accreditation has been a strategic focus of Chief Jokerst and the CUPD staff since she arrived at CU Boulder two years ago and is critical to ensuring community centered agency,” said Dan Jones, Associate Vice Chancellor for Integrity, Safety and Compliance. “The University supports this work and is committed to assisting CUPD successfully complete the accreditation process.”

The accreditation process can take several years as the department works through a five-step process; candidacy, self-assessment, on-site assessment, commission review and award, and maintaining compliance.

Self-assessment, the step CUPD is currently in, is the longest of the five steps and requires that the department compares its policies and programs against the IACLEA standards. If deficiencies are identified, adjustments are made to existing policies or new policies are developed. Once the department documents that they meet the standards, the on-site visit is scheduled.

“Accreditation holds the Chief of Police accountable to ensuring that all of the agency’s policies and procedures are at a very high standard,” CUPD Chief Doreen Jokerst said. “It is a platform for excellence and goes towards our vision at CUPD, to be the top university law enforcement agency in the nation.”

Once accreditation is awarded, it is valid for four years. During that time, CUPD will continue to measure their performance against the standards, submitting annual reports demonstrating compliance to ensure that the accreditation is renewed.

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CUPD provides training in groundbreaking techniques

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 21:01:45 +0000

CUPD provides training in groundbreaking techniques Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/09/2020 - 15:01

A CUPD officer tries to de-escalate a situation where a person is holding a knife to their own neck in this ICAT training scenario.

The University of Colorado Boulder Police Department is one of the state’s first police departments training their officers in ICAT, or Integrating Communications, Assessment, and Tactics. Created by the Police Executive Research Forum, ICAT training provides officers with the tools they need to successfully and safely defuse a range of critical incidents. The training is designed to prepare officers for situations involving people who may be experiencing a mental health or other sort of crisis who are unarmed or are armed with weapons other than firearms. At the center of the ICAT training is ethics, the CUPD core values, proportionality and the sanctity of human life.

“The training consists of lecture and real-life scenarios in decision-making, crisis recognition and response, communications and negotiations, and operational safety tactics,” CUPD Training Sergeant Brian Brown said. “Then, we apply those lessons in scenario-based training exercises.”

In recent years, police agencies from across the country have been providing their officers with specialized training on how to interact with persons who are in crisis because of mental health issues or other factors. Last fall, CUPD took that a step farther by introducing mental telehealth conversations into these types of calls. ICAT builds on those efforts by integrating communications and tactical skills with crisis intervention approaches.

“The ICAT training equips officers with the tools, techniques and skills needed to slow down some situations to find options that will safely resolve that situation,” said CUPD Chief Doreen Jokerst. “The core of the training is saving lives. It helps keep the public and the police officers safe and it helps build a better relationship with the community.”

CUPD is training their officers as well as officers from other departments who then take the training back to their home departments.

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Safety Alert: CUPD investigating possible aggravated assault

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Sep 2020 08:34:56 +0000

Safety Alert: CUPD investigating possible aggravated assault Anonymous (not verified) Sun, 09/06/2020 - 02:34

To the CU Boulder Community:

On Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, at approximately 11:20 p.m., the CU Boulder Police Department (“CUPD”) was notified of a possible attempted aggravated assault.

Six high school-aged males were hanging out in parking lot 306 on the CU Boulder campus. The males were in two different large pickup trucks. Two college-aged people, a male and a female, were walking through the parking lot when they started to verbally engage the high school students. The verbal altercation escalated and the college-aged male displayed a knife with a blade that was approximately 3 inches long. The male threatened the entire group and held one of the high school students up against one of the trucks. A small crowd started to gather and the two college-aged people left, heading south on Broadway and then east on Baseline Road. The high school-aged males followed the two, but lost sight of them near 27th Way and Baseline Road.

The suspect is described as:

Light-skinned, black male, 18- to 22-years-old
Medium to long black hair
Wearing a black and white plaid, flannel shirt, black shorts and white shoes
Thin build, about 5 feet 10 inches tall
He had a longboard skateboard

For free and confidential support please contact CU Boulder’s Office of Victim Assistance (OVA), 303-492-8855. OVA is a resource for those impacted as well as for those supporting impacted people.

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CU Boulder provides mobile safety app

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:51:35 +0000

CU Boulder provides mobile safety app Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/02/2020 - 10:51

The University of Colorado Boulder is offering the Guardian mobile safety app for free to all students, faculty and staff. The app allows you to set your friends and family members as your guardians as you walk, run or bike anywhere in the United States.

When you start your trip in the app, your guardians will receive a text message with a link that shows your current location. You set a timer for the expected duration of your trip. It counts down as you travel. When you mark your trip as complete, your guardians will receive another text letting them know that you arrived safely. If you don’t mark your trip as complete, your guardians will receive a text message showing your location. They can reach out to you to make sure that you are safe or contact local police to let them know you may be in trouble while providing your start point, destination, and last location.

The Guardian app can do more than that. It provides an additional method to receive CU Boulder Alerts, it has a list of phone numbers for crisis support systems on campus as well as campus safety websites, and it can provide you with quick access to call 911 or the CU Boulder police non-emergency phone number.

Guardian is available for free on the App Store or Google Play. Simply search for Rave Guardian and download the app to your mobile device. Then follow the instructions to complete the setup. Be sure to use your colorado.edu email address.

To learn more about the safety timer feature, watch the video below or visit CU Boulder Alerts Guardian FAQ page.

Rave Guardian User Resources

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