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Department History, continued

Keenly motivated to improve effectiveness, Director Brooks revised several of his predecessor's earlier policies: rank titles were changed to reflect a more traditional command structure (police agent was retained, however); the department's name was changed to Lakewood Police Department; the blue blazer was consigned to the back seat as optional wear in favor of a more recognizable (and practical) police uniform; and the generalist concept yielded to specialist assignments of patrol agent, detective, and the like.

Director Brooks recognized the strength of the foundation already laid by his predecessor, Ronald Lynch, and under his stewardship and that of a succession of talented police executives who followed, the enduring values to this day remain unchanged. The motto -Intelligence, Initiative, Integrity- is still the department's best "value statement;" the college degree requirement remains; the idea of a strong internal affairs program has never wavered; integrity is the highest value; and police salaries have remained competitive. The dedication to community involvement continues true to its original intent: neighborhood team policing, community policing, and now sector policing describe the department's commitment to this value. The formula has been a success, and year after year, citizen surveys reveal extraordinary support for the department from the community.

The department has been housed in several different buildings over the past 30 plus years. The initial department was located at 1580 Yarrow St., which today is the Clements Senior Center. The department quickly grew as the city grew and moved into an office building at 7860 W. 16th Ave. in 1971. The dispatch center remained in its original location. The Investigation and Review Division was housed in the current Police Athletic League gym. The entire department was moved to 44 Union Blvd. in 1976. At the time, the department's building sat at the edge of new developing areas of Lakewood. In 1984 the Police Department moved to a brand new building at 445 S. Allison Parkway where it remains today.

In 1976 John Vermilye became chief of police and remained in that position until 1981. Charles Johnston became the fourth chief for the department in 1981 and retired after 20 years in January 2001. Chief Ron Burns took over in December 2001, followed by current Chief Kevin Paletta.

In 1986, Lakewood was the second agency in Colorado to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. The commission awards accreditation to police departments that comply with more than 400 accreditation standards deemed essential to the protection of the life, health, safety and rights of citizens. By becoming accredited, the department exemplifies the very best in professionalism. Every three years the department must go through the rigorous accreditation process. Lakewood has achieved accreditation repeatedly.

Lakewood's willingness to risk failure and even ridicule through its pioneering experiment in municipal law enforcement has had, over the years since its inception, major impacts on law enforcement within the state. College backgrounds are now routine among Colorado police departments; police salaries rose, especially in departments near Lakewood; team and community policing programs with various names and emphases were begun; and "best practices" and police accreditation have become common goals. In 1996, an article in "Good Housekeeping" magazine rated the Lakewood Police Department as one of the top eight suburban police forces in the country.To date, sixty-three Lakewood police agents have gone on to chief law enforcement executive positions across the country, proof of the exceptional quality of the Lakewood experience.

Had the Lakewood police department never existed and the politics of the time held sway, similar progressive efforts probably would have surfaced somewhere else. To be sure, police agencies throughout the country were experimenting with various reforms. But none had taken the bold step of incorporating at one time so many features of modern policing. "The Lakewood Way," as some call the department's model of intelligent, community-based, ethical policing, is now part of its tradition, and the men and women of the Lakewood Police Department strive constantly to live up to and exceed their own history.

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