A look at challenges, accomplishments and CUPD’s vision for the future
During her five-year tenure as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police at the University of Colorado Boulder, Chief Doreen Jokerst has shepherded her department through a pandemic, nationwide calls to defund police departments and calls for more transparency in police policies and training.
Jokerst notes the challenges of the past five years have provided a platform for progressive, strategic initiatives to enhance public safety efforts at CU Boulder. “I have especially embraced the opportunities to engage more directly with the community we serve. I’m humbled in the trust placed in me to lead CUPD,” she said.
Some highlights from the past half decade:
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Inclusive department culture: CUPD’s focus on inclusive culture, progressive training and enhancing department reputation through community outreach is helping us not only attract more applicants but to retain existing officers and professional staff. Jokerst commonly says, “hurt people hurt people'' and she makes it a point to ensure the members of her department feel valued and heard.
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National accreditation: CUPD is the first Boulder county police agency to become nationally-accredited, meeting and exceeding national policing standards, while retaining policies and programs unique to the needs of the CU Boulder community.
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Progressive training: CUPD has embarked on a comprehensive training schedule, including active bystander training, trauma-informed interview techniques, integrative communications, communicating with people with disabilities and understanding bias.
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Community engagement: CUPD regularly engages students, faculty, staff and Boulder community members in a https://www.colorado.edu/police/community-outreachvariety of ways, including through the Community Oversight Review Board, which provides the public a way to engage directly with police on policy issues and hiring.
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Technology advancements: CUPD has enacted body worn camera technology and policies, as well as a fleet system of cameras within its police vehicles. This provides transparency in interactions between police officers and those they serve. In addition to cameras, CUPD launched interactive crime data dashboards to provide further transparency on its crime prevention efforts and response.
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Advancing women in policing: Under Chief Jokerst, CUPD signed the 30x30 pledge to advance the hiring, professional development and retention of women in blue, and encouraged other university police chiefs to do the same.
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Assisting the community: CUPD provided support to local law enforcement partners such as Boulder Police Department, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department and others during major critical incidents, such as assisting in response to the King Soopers shooting in March 2021 and providing assistance in response to the Marshall Fire in late December of that year.
Jokest was appointed to her position on Aug. 24th, 2018 and took the helm of CUPD on Sept. 17th of that year. Prior to that, she spent nearly two decades with the Parker (CO) Police Department, rising up through the ranks from a volunteer cadet at the age of fourteen to police commander.
“Over the past five years, CUPD has been able to innovate, think strategically and reach many goals to benefit those we serve,” said Jokerst. “I could not have been successful without the dedication, teamwork and collaboration of my colleagues at CUPD, the leadership of the university and the continued support and partnership of the community,” she added.
Chief Jokerst is looking ahead, drafting a new five-year strategic plan for the department and continuing CUPD’s commitment to increased community engagement and transparency. She is happy to answer questions from campus community members and members of the broader Boulder community. She can be reached at: Doreen.Jokerst@colorado.edu