The Denver City Council approved current Division Chief Ron Thomas as the new chief of the Denver Police Department in mid-October. Mayor Michael Hancock nominated Thomas as the new chief in August after former Chief Paul Pazen announced his retirement.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas
Thomas is a 33-year veteran of the Denver Police Department. He’s held assignments in Patrol, Investigations, Special Operations and Administration, including assignments as Commander of Police District Two, Police District Five, and the Internal Affairs Bureau. Thomas took over the department’s day-to-day management as acting chief in September after Chief Pazen’s retirement.
“I understand the challenges ahead,” Thomas said the day after his nomination was announced. “I know that crime is up, that other safety challenges have increased. I recognize that response times are up. I understand that call hold times are up. At the same time, I understand our staffing is down.” Thomas said he’s committed to tackling all those challenges and rebuilding community trust.