Boulder police report full staffing, stepped-up camping and alcohol enforcement ahead of summer events

Chief Redfern, Boulder Police Department, told the University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission on May 6 that the department is staffing up and shifting enforcement tactics on the Hill ahead of summer events.

The chief said the department is “as fully staffed as we've been since 2016,” adding it expects to overhire by two positions to ensure coverage while officers retire and complete training. He said dispatch and records divisions are also fully staffed. "Get out of your car. Get on foot," he said, describing the department's expectation for officers' street presence.

The staffing changes will let the department reassess patrol deployments and return officers to areas that need more coverage, including University Hill and downtown. The department has ordered three more e-bikes that will be used on The Hill and in other high-pedestrian areas.

Why it matters: Boulder faces several large, crowded events this summer, including concert activity and the city’s preparations for Sundance in coming years. The chief said the combination of crowd events, fireworks, and recurring street-racing complaints has prompted a push to make enforcement more proactive.

Redfern summarized recent crime trends and operational priorities. He said property crimes were down in 2024 but that aggravated assault and simple assault categories increased last year; so far in 2025 the city is down across most categories except simple assault. He said the department is emphasizing proactive contacts with people camping in public spaces and on the creek path, where enforcement and removal of encampments has been stepped up.

Redfern also described a recent incident to illustrate the limits of purely local enforcement: a woman reportedly pulled a knife on a group of second graders on a field trip and threatened them and their teacher. "She pulled out a large knife and said she was gonna kill them and their teacher," he said; officers arrested the woman, who received a personal recognizance bond and had posted bond despite the district attorney's objections.

On other public-safety topics, the chief said officers will work more closely with Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Open Space & Mountain Parks on fireworks and other jurisdictional issues that occur above Town (areas not always under city police jurisdiction). He said the city is consulting lawyers and the sheriff's office to clarify enforcement authority in those spaces.

The chief said the department will press for consistent enforcement of liquor and underage sales laws and has assigned a new liquor enforcement officer. He also said he is coordinating with the fire marshal about occupancy checks and limits, noting that other jurisdictions sometimes call fire personnel to perform real-time occupancy determinations at crowded venues.

Commissioners asked about ID checks in front of businesses and whether those practices were discouraging customers; Redfern acknowledged the concern and said liquor and underage-enforcement practices should be fair and that staff will investigate reports of unequal treatment.

Redfern closed by asking commissioners to report what they see on the Hill so police can adjust tactics. "If we're doing things that are not working, if we're falling short on things, I want to hear about it," he said.

Looking ahead: the department plans heightened staffing and event planning for Fish weekend and other summer events, and said it will continue to refine staffing and technology needs for Sundance 2027.