Manitou Springs hires new police chief

Manitou Springs announced the hiring of its newest chief of police Friday.

Lt. Brian D. Churchill of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department will take over as the chief of the Manitou Springs Police Department on Oct. 1.

Former police chief Joe Ribeiro retired from the department in May, and interim chief Joe Breister was leading the force while the city searched for candidates.

Churchill previously served in the U.S. Army in the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, according to a news release issued by the city. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and a graduate certificate in criminal justice. He has served in law enforcement since 1993.

This also isn’t Churchill’s first connection to Colorado — in 2017, he was a candidate for the police chief job in Durango, according to the Durango Herald. He said at that time that he would utilize social media to increase communication with the department and have a greater presence in the community.

KRDO Only 2019