Durango Police Chief Jim Spratlen will retire at the end of the month.
In a statement emailed by his secretary, Spratlen said he wants to focus on his family.
“Too much to do and so little time to do it!” he wrote. “... Time for a new journey, putting my family first since they have always ridden in the back seat.”
He added: “I want to thank all of you who have supported me working in the community, the region and the state for the past 31 years during my time with the fire service, emergency management and law enforcement. You will not be forgotten.”
Efforts to reach Spratlen for comment were unsuccessful Thursday afternoon.
Spratlen joined the department in 1995 and moved up the ranks until being promoted in June 2011 to chief of police.
Spratlen announced his plans to retire earlier this month, said City Manager Ron LeBlanc.
“We typically don’t do news releases for people who retire, that’s why you didn’t hear about it,” LeBlanc said.
Spratlen began his law-enforcement career in 1987 with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. He became a dispatcher for the Emergency Communications center in 1995 and became a Durango police officer less than six months later.
Shortly after becoming chief, Spratlen vowed to place a greater emphasis on community policing – the type in which officers walk neighborhoods and build a rapport with residents. He started regular foot patrols during the summer months on Main Avenue.
But his department faced criticism for a SWAT response to “zombie marchers” who occupied Main Avenue during Halloween 2011. In subsequent years, police have taken a more tolerant approach to the annual event, allowing demonstrators to march up and down Main Avenue for about an hour before politely asking participants to disperse.
The department, which has 55 sworn officers, experienced intense turnover in 2014 and early 2015, with 15 officers parting ways for various reasons. Since then, the department has returned to normal staffing levels.
Spratlen has taught the Law Enforcement Academy in Durango and has served on several boards and commissions related to public safety.
The Durango Police Department has a $6.9 million budget this year. The chief was paid $132,674.
LeBlanc said he will name an interim chief and begin a search for Spratlen’s replacement. He didn’t have a specific timeline for naming a new chief.
“He’s been a very productive member of our management team, and we’ve been lucky to have him,” LeBlanc said. “I wish him well. He’s got a lot of things yet to do in his lifetime.”
shane@durangoherald.com
