City Manager Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde announced in September 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.
Boulder PD Chief Stehpen RedFearn
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.
“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 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.
“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 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.