Diversity in Boulder is a Topic of Conversation for both Police Departments

Imagine being a part of a group of 900 people. While that number feels relatively large, on the University of Colorado Boulder’s campus, it’s actually quite small. 

According to public 2019 enrollment data, African American students make up 2.5 percent of CU’s population, totalling 899 students. How can students of color and particularly African American students feel valued in a community that isn’t as diverse as it claims? 

Within the past year, multiple students at two different Universities in Boulder have been racially profiled by public servants and Boulder residents. In the fall of 2019, a woman verbally harassed students of color on campus with racial slurs and vulgar behavior. It aired on social media, causing a strong debate about how African American students are treated in Boulder. 

After the occurrences, the two local police departments have striven to make sure those who reside in Boulder are treated fairly. According to CU Police Department’s (CUPD) mission statement, their goals are to “provide the highest quality services in order to enhance community safety, protect life and property and reduce crime and the fear of crime.”

“I think the Boulder Police Department strives to treat everyone equally and equitably,” Dean Cunningham, Public Safety Information Officer for the Boulder Police Department said. “And I think if we start there and we're always courteous and professional with everyone we come in contact with, that obviously starts to build trust with the police department and all of the different communities within Boulder.” 

Both the Boulder Police Department and CUPD work side-by-side in assisting each other on events staff, responding to calls and emergencies and reacting appropriately to things that occur in the town of 100,000 people. 

Scott Pribble, CUPD’s Media Relations Spokesperson says communication is fluent between the two departments and that employees of all rank are willing to lend a hand. “We train with [Boulder Police Department], both of our department and our recruits go to the same academy, so from the time that they start, they are working side-by-side with Boulder Police Officers,” he said. “We just don’t have many officers, so whenever we have a large event, whether it is a scheduled event or unscheduled event, we rely on our partnership with Boulder Police.”

Pribble thinks the tensions around racism on campus and the Boulder community are not directed at law enforcement and the university representatives, but more aimed at those who partake in exclusive, intimidating and racist behavior. 

In an effort to be closer to any member of the community— regardless of the color of their skin— both Pribble and Cunningham vouch that their departments are reaching out to different communities to better understand how their lives can be improved. 

There are events designed to be an interactive way students and community members can engage with an officer in a casual way, such as Coffee with a Cop. This was created to break barriers into new communities, to interact with people on a personal basis and to break the modern stigma surrounding police officers. For example, CUPD recently met with members of the LGBTQ community on campus to learn new language and techniques on how to work in conjunction with those who identify to be in that specific group of people. 

Although there are steps in the direction of progress, both departments understand that for African American students and community members to feel safe and valued in Boulder, it will take time. 

“We’re trying to build those relationships, we’re trying to get out there to let people know that we’re people too. Yeah we make mistakes, but we’re trying not to and we’re trying to reach you and talk to you the way you want to be talked to” Pribble said.