City Manager Names Stephen Redfearn Next Police Chief

City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde announced today that she has named Stephen Redfearn as the next police chief for the City of Boulder. Redfearn has been a member of the Boulder Police Department for three years and has served as interim chief since January 2024.

The decision follows a national and competitive search that highlighted the importance of choosing a candidate who can lead the department through a time of significant evolution to achieve the progressive and transformative vision in Boulder’s Reimagine Policing Plan, which Redfearn helped create.

“I have watched Steve take on the challenges that face his profession with heart, strategic thinking and a clear understanding that policing needs to change,” Rivera-Vandermyde said, “and I believe he is uniquely positioned as our next chief. Steve understands the importance of establishing deep relationships with the community we all serve, and I am confident he will both lean into the promise of Reimagine Policing and make it a reality.”

Redfearn joined the Boulder Police Department as deputy chief in 2021, after 25 years in policing-related public service. He started his career as a cadet and as a 911 dispatcher, including during the Columbine High School mass shooting. Redfearn later joined the Aurora Police Department, where he worked for two decades, in a variety of roles from patrol officer to division chief. As Division Chief of Operations, he managed more than 400 employees in patrol operations, SWAT, district detectives, and the field training program.

While supervising an anti-crime team, then-Sergeant Redfearn responded to the Century 16 Theatre shooting in July 2012 where he took a leadership role in overseeing the triage and transport of multiple victims as well as the apprehension of the killer. Redfearn was credited with saving multiple lives that night.

Redfearn also worked in Aurora in 2019 at the time of the tragic death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, who was forcibly detained and injected with ketamine during an interaction with officers. Then-Captain Redfearn responded after the incident took place and called for the multi-jurisdictional Critical Incident Protocol to be implemented based on what he learned and McClain’s condition. He has been criticized by some members of the Boulder County NAACP for a subsequent decision to change the call type in dispatch records from “a suspicious person” to “an assault on an officer.” Redfearn has testified that he took this action based on what he was initially told at the scene and in accordance with a common policing practice to update records to reflect the most serious call type possible.

Redfearn has shared publicly that he has reflected deeply on that case – and learned from it. In September 2023, he testified for the prosecution against the officers indicted in McClain’s death. As interim chief in Boulder, he implemented a new practice where both the original call type and any updated potential information will be maintained in the records for full transparency. Any change will require supervisory approval.

“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.”

Redfearn said he is excited by the opportunity to continue to lead the department and pledged to continue to engage with the community and the city’s Police Oversight Panel to solve problems and build trust.

“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.”

Redfearn added that he appreciated learning from the other finalists for the position: Leonard Redhorse III, deputy chief of the Navajo Police Department, and Josh Wallace, commander of the Criminal Network Group for the Bureau of Counterterrorism with the Chicago Police Department.

“This process has been challenging, but it allowed Boulder to see that there are other highly qualified police leaders working toward a new way of policing,” Redfearn said. “I was inspired by Deputy Chief Redhorse’s passion for integrating principles of harmony rooted in Indigenous culture and Commander Wallace’s understanding that authentic grassroots engagement is key to tackling challenging issues in the communities we serve. In my new role, I am eager to learn more and implement ideas from these respected and committed police executives, as well as others across the country.”

Redfearn earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology from Metropolitan State University and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University.

In addition to formal education, Redfearn has attended numerous professional development course including the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO), Denver University Daniel’s College of Business-Public Safety Leadership Development Program, and the Harvard Kennedy School-Senior Executives in State and Local Government.

Redfearn is the president of the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation and recognized as a subject matter expert in line of duty death response and preparedness, mass violence prevention and response, and officer wellness. He trains around the country on these topics and has presented at the FBI National Academy, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), National Homicide Investigators Association, multiple law enforcement agencies, including most recently the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), and has spoken at dozens of conferences and trainings including the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The promotion is effective immediately.