Chief Don Wick
Police Chief Don Wick has served more than 25 years with the Arvada Police Department. He was appointed the Arvada Chief of Police in July, 2007.
Chief Wick began his career with the Arvada Police Department in 1985 after serving four years as a police officer in Laramie, Wyoming. He joined Arvada as a patrol officer and was promoted to the rank of sergeant just four years later. He was named a lieutenant in 1997. (The position of lieutenant was later reclassified as commander.) He has worked in most assignments within the Arvada Police Department including patrol, investigations, internal affairs and administration.
In addition to his extensive law enforcement experience, he holds a BS degree in Criminal Justice from Metropolitan State College, and a Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Colorado at Denver, Graduate School of Public Affairs.
Additional Command Staff training in law enforcement includes:
- School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University
- Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University
- Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University
- Rocky Mountain Program at the Center for the Improvement of Public Management with the University of Colorado at Denver's Graduate School of Public Affairs
- National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University
- Public Safety Leadership Program sponsored by Intrado and conducted by the University of Denver at the Daniels College of Business.
One of Chief Wick's priorities for the department is to further connect the organization with the community by enhancing partnerships and solving problems impacting the city as a whole.
"Improving the quality of life for those who live and work in Arvada is paramount to a successful and thriving community, and I believe efforts to reduce the city's already low crime rate will further the appeal of this outstanding community."
Other areas of emphasis are efforts of the Arvada Police Department to be a leader in the quality of police service provided to citizens, implementing the latest technological advances germane to policing and being exemplary stewards of taxpayers' money.
Chief Wick is committed to aiding the community as a whole. He is a member of the Kiwanis club and routinely meets with citizens groups, business owners and leaders of the church community to address issues such as crime, child hunger and the homeless right here in Arvada.
Honored to be Arvada's top law enforcement leader, Chief Wick says, "The members of the Arvada Police Department are skilled professionals who are committed to providing the community with the highest level of service possible. I am privileged to lead a department committed to providing exceptional police service to the citizens of Arvada."
Away from the police department, Chief Wick enjoys building furniture and acoustic guitars, reading world literature, and is an avid road and mountain cyclist. He has been married for 25 years and has two daughters. Chief Wick can often be found exploring popular parts of Colorado and some of the state's roads less traveled.
