Gunnison police chief reports October spike in assaults, three new officers and equipment needs

The Gunnison police chief reported to the council on Oct. data and department priorities, saying October showed an increase in assaults compared with recent months and that many incidents were now investigations under active follow-up. "This last month in October of this year was our highest numbers that we've had," the chief said, adding that some of those reports were school-related incidents or domestic incidents that are grouped under assaults for reporting purposes.

The chief told the council the department added three sworn officers in October and is currently fully staffed. He said several pieces of equipment need replacement — including expired ballistic vests and older body cameras — and that the department plans to apply for a DUI grant to help purchase new body cameras. "There's a DUI grant that's available that I'm gonna apply for," he said.

In one highlighted case, the chief said investigators identified and interviewed a suspect in a stolen UTV; the suspect confessed, drove the vehicle into a canyon and smashed it. The chief said the theft will be prosecuted as a second-degree felony because the vehicle was stolen and extensively damaged.

Council members asked clarifying questions about vehicle choices for patrol, the cost-benefit of SUVs versus trucks for local terrain, and whether the statistics shown represented investigations or arrests. The chief explained the difference: the top-line graphic shows investigations reported in the month, while a separate graph shows arrests and citations over time.

The chief also discussed changes to vehicle markings to make patrol vehicles clearly identified as police, reassignment of one K-9-equipped vehicle back to patrol configuration, and planned policy work on evidence handling and evidence-room clean-up.