Denver Area Loses 9 Police Chiefs

Nine chiefs of police, accounting for 63 years of cumulative service leading police departments across metro Denver, have left the job in just the last year.

The reasons run the gamut — from retirement to resignation to termination — and cover communities big and small, from Aurora and Lakewood to Golden and Morrison, the Greeley Times reports.

Those in the profession say there is no doubt that the recent upheaval over and scrutiny of policing, most notably is a big reason why so many chiefs are leaving the job.

“I think there’s more pressure on chiefs than before. It’s been a tough few years in law enforcement,” says Louisville Police Chief David Hayes, who also serves as president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police.