As we embark on a new year together as a community, I am pleased to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments of the Greeley Police Department in 2023 and outline our ambitious goals for the year ahead.
The dedication of the men and women of this agency, those with badges and those without, was instrumental in achieving the progress we saw in 2023. These people, our greatest asset, coupled with strategic initiatives, technological advancements in crime fighting, and community collaboration has positioned us to make significant contributions to the safety and security of this community
Efficiency through technology
In 2023, the Greeley Police Department harnessed the power of technology to enhance the performance, productivity, and security of our officers.
The acquisition and implementation of a new county-wide records management system marked a major upgrade in our writing and approval process, improving the efficiency of officers and the quality of their reports. Despite the challenges associated with this impressive technological leap, our Records Section excelled in facilitating the transition, ensuring timely completion of thousands of reports annually.
Recruitment and retention success
Our commitment to attracting and retaining the most qualified and competent employees led to the adoption of innovative recruitment and retention approaches in 2023. By remaining proactive and creative in our strategies, with buy-in from our members, we strive to maintain a resilient and appealing workplace culture.
To that end, in 2023 we created and filled a new position at the Greeley Police Department for a Liquor Licensing Technician. This invaluable position dedicates a non-sworn technician to proactively monitor any establishments that serve alcohol within the city and ensures compliance with applicable liquor law applications.
We aim to keep alcohol out of the hands of our kids while holding those who break the law accountable.
Community policing and quality of life
Addressing quality of life issues in 2023, the Greeley Police Department allocated additional resources to downtown businesses and residents based on crime data and public feedback. Sworn officers dedicated substantial hours to proactively deter and address nefarious behavior during high traffic times in high crime areas.
Looking ahead to 2024, we aim to launch a photo radar pilot program to address hundreds of traffic concerns in residential neighborhoods, school zones, parks, and identified corridors, enhancing public safety and traffic management.
Leveraging cutting edge technology
Our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology was evident in 2023, with the formation of a project team dedicated to researching options. The use of drones, license plate readers, covert and overt cameras, as well as citizen-owned cameras, has proven effective in reducing crime.
Moving forward, we plan to implement advanced technologies to further enhance efficiency, reduce crime, and ensure transparency in our policing efforts.
High-performance government
In 2023, the Greeley Police Department fully implemented the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) program, providing 8 hours of ABLE training to 138 sworn officers and 20 non-sworn staff members.
ABLE focuses on preventing misconduct, avoiding policing mistakes, and promoting officer health and wellness. We also extended our commitment to community-wide public safety by assisting in training multiple officers from The University of Northern Colorado Police Department.
Safe and secure communities
Our relentless pursuit of violent offenders and gang members in 2023 contributed to a downward trend in both violent and property crimes.
Through our Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety Initiative (DDACT) we strategically allocated resources to areas with higher crime and traffic accident rates than the rest of the city.
For the second year in a row, Colorado topped the list for states with the most auto thefts. To directly combat this upward trend, we collaborated with our regional partners through grant-funded BATTLE (Beat Auto Theft Through Law Enforcement) operations, we achieved significant success in combating auto theft in Greeley, Weld County, and Northern Colorado as a whole.
In closing, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the men and women of the Greeley Police Department for their dedication and hard work every day.
I also wanted to personally thank you, the members of our community, for your constant support for our officers. Working with you as a community is truly the best part of being in this community.
And as we look to the future, we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure community through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
— Adam Turk is Chief of the Greeley Police Department