About Alastair
Chief of Staff
Boulder Police Chief of Staff Alastair McNiven is responsible for managing the services and activities of sworn and non-sworn personnel in all aspects of police operations. The chief of staff is also responsible for internal organizational focus to foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, and productive work atmosphere.
The chief of staff will ensure that the organization and its functions are integrated into a strong, sustainable infrastructure that supports Boulder Police as a leader in the provision of quality and responsive public safety services. He reports directly to the Chief of Police.
Chief of Staff McNiven has served the Boulder Police Department in multiple capacities for the past 25 years. That includes 15 years as a police sergeant and 20 years as a SWAT team member/Assistant Commander. He has held several appointments as a liaison to important city and community groups, such as the Islamic Center of Boulder and Special Olympics of Colorado, and he is a city Equity Ambassador and Equity Training Facilitator. He has received numerous meritorious awards throughout his career, serving on the regional Boulder County Drug Task Force, as a defensive tactics instructor, and as the Professional Standards Unit Supervisor, all of which give him a unique perspective for the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff position.
Chief of Staff McNiven came to the Boulder Police Department with a rich background of lived experiences including his time growing up in Hong Kong as a youth and formative years in his homeland of Scotland. He earned his doctorate in physiology from the University of Edinburgh prior to working in the U.S. and conducted research in that field. He values teaching, training and has accumulated advanced training for himself from the FBI-LEEDA, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, and the California Training Institute.
Chief of Staff McNiven has defined a strategic vision for the future of policing in Boulder and has cultivated strong ties with community partners towards these goals. He collaborates in intentional ways to advocate for the best practices supported by evidence-based outcomes to serve the entire community, increase safety, and prevent harm.