Police response policy examined

Residents have frequently asked whether a triple homicide last Halloween in Colorado Springs could have been prevented with a faster police response.

According to a final investigation report released Tuesday, police dispatchers did not immediately send officers to respond to witness reports of suspicious activity by Noah Harpham, 33.

The report says: “Because Harpham did not appear threatening to any person at the time, the 911 operator terminated the phone call. The call taker informed … that officers would be dispatched as soon as possible.”

Dispatchers began receiving calls around 8:30 a.m. about Harpham carrying a long gun and gasoline cans but officers did not arrive until 9 a.m., when they had a shootout with him, according to the report.

Vanessa Rich, the mother of one of the three victims killed, said she no longer blames dispatchers for the delayed response.

“From the beginning, the dispatcher was very nonchalant, that we can carry concealed weapons,” she said. “An (assault) rifle on your shoulder is not a concealed weapon.”

Police said they believe that their response was appropriate, given the circumstances and information known at the time.

“We’re always evaluating our policies and procedures,” said Sgt. Tim Stankey. “We evaluate calls on an individual basis. We don’t have the resources to give every call a high priority. The dispatchers did nothing wrong.”

Rodger Swanson, who was less than a block away from Harpham’s shootout with police, aid he has mixed feelings about the situation.

“On Halloween, that could have been a gag or someone wearing a Halloween costume,” he said. “You have to consider that. Still, I feel like the way things are nowadays, officers should respond immediately on something like that, just to be sure and save lives. I saw some of the victims every day as I walked down the street. I can’t believe they’re gone. They should still be alive.”