09/08/2025
Honoring Our Heritage: The Development of Broomfield’s Police Department
Broomfield has a unique history in that the town straddled four different counties as it began to develop: Adams, Boulder, Jefferson, and Weld. This did cause problems since the young local government had to work with authorities from all four counties. This caused problems as it related to schools, police and fire protection, jails, courts, clerks, and records. In the mid-1990s, the City of Broomfield began looking at the possibility of creating a separate county. In a 1998 feasibility study, the city found that it required only a minimal tax increase to become an independent county. That same year, a statewide ballot initiative passed to amend the Colorado State Constitution and create the City and County of Broomfield as the state's 64th county. With the blessing of the four counties that were losing part of their base, the new county lines officially took effect on November 15, 2001, just 40 years after the city of Broomfield had first incorporated. It remains the youngest county in the United States.
Before the mid-1950s, residents worked together to keep things running smoothly and maintain order. When needed, court was held in the homes of the early residents. After the Turnpike opened in 1952, the Turnpike Land Co. began to purchase large blocks of land and worked to develop a model city. Developing “Broomfield Heights,” they envisioned taking the city from its population of close to 5,000 to over 20,000. The growth boom was on. It was obvious that, for this to happen, Broomfield would need a more consistent police presence. The Broomfield Police Department was formed in the 1950s to provide security in the construction and residential areas of the developing Broomfield Heights. The first officers, including Leonard Bishop and Ed McCarthy, were appointed as special deputies of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department and were paid through that department and by contributions solicited from area residents. Early on the officers operated out of their own homes.
When the city was incorporated in 1961, Leonard G. Bishop was appointed as the City’s first Chief of Police by the town’s first mayor, Don DesCombes and the department became an official entity in its own right, keeping pace with the city. Chief Bishop would serve in that position until 1979. In the early days, the department operated out of the basement of the Empire Savings and Loan Building. By 1969, the Department consisted of eight officers as well as a K-9 officer. These were Chief Bishop, Bill Brophy, Mervin Cox, Ted Fritz, Doris Kirsch, Frank Lewark, Ray Miller, K-9 Officer Prince, and James Webb.
Broomfield rapidly expanded its borders and population during the 1970s and 80s, and keeping pace, the Police Department greatly expanded its staff and services, developing a Community Center, Neighborhood Watch, and D.A.R.E. program. Following the retirement of Chief Leonard G. Bishop in 1979, Patrick C. Ahlstrom was appointed as the second Chief of Police of the City and served until 1986. By this time, the department was made up of over 20 officers. During this period, the Police Department was housed in the east wing of the Municipal offices that were located at #6 Garden Center. Howard A. Cornell served as the third Police Chief, holding that position from 1987 through 1991.
Thomas C. DeLand was appointed Chief in 1991 and he would serve as Chief for the next 23 years. While the 90s were a continued time of growth for the department, the greatest expansion and changes would come with the formation of Broomfield County in 2001. Chief Deland not only continued as Chief of Police but had the added responsibility of serving as the sheriff of the new county. The Police Department’s first Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was organized soon after the Department became a combined municipal and county law enforcement agency. In 2002, the City and County of Broomfield Public Safety Communications Center was established to provide communications services for both police and fire. In 2003, the Department’s Traffic Unit was expanded to include 9 motorcycle officers. When Chief Deland retired on July 18, 2014, Gary Creager was appointed Chief and continues to serve.
