On Sept. 30, Chief Jim Spratlen retired from the Durango Police Department after 31 years of fire, emergency and law enforcement service. With all that is happening in law enforcement nationally, we are fortunate to have had Spratlen’s leadership.
Spratlen has created a culture within his department that promotes community policing and relationship building. He is quick to tell you that the reason why the officers in his department are empowered is because of the customers it serves – you and I.
To Spratlen, it did not matter how his customers might interface with the justice system, what is important is that we are all treated with dignity. I learned this firsthand as a participant in the department’s Citizen’s Police Academy.
I asked Spratlen what the most important quality is in our new chief. He answered in one word – compassion. For Spratlen, it’s that simple. Let’s work to continue the legacy Spratlen helped create for us, and appreciate how difficult it is to put a police uniform on each day.
Steve Ruddell
Durango
