Colorado Springs deputy chief tabbed for interim chief

Mayor John Suthers says the search to replace retiring police chief Pete Carey will be nationwide, but a deputy chief and longtime Colorado Springs resident will fill in as top cop for the interim.

Deputy Chief Vince Niski will serve as interim chief of police once Carey officially retires on Feb. 1.

Niski first joined CSPD in 1989 and became deputy chief in 2012, according to the city. He currently oversees the Patrol Operations Bureau and has served in many other divisions, including traffic, specialized enforcement, and Metro Vice Narcotics and Intelligence.

Carey has served as chief since 2011.

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The city of Colorado Springs announced Thursday that Police Chief Pete Carey will be retiring in February after a 34-year career with the department.

Carey first joined CSPD as an officer in 1984. Since then, he has worked with the Metro Vice, Narcotics & Intelligence divisions and supervised in Patrol, the Training Academy, Tactical Enforcement, Investigations, and Metro VNI. He was appointed as acting chief in Oct. 2011 and was permanently appointed in Jan. 2012.

“Chief Pete Carey has provided exceptional leadership and service to the Colorado Springs Police Department, and we are grateful for his tenure. There’s no question that he leaves CSPD in strong standing, and its ongoing CALEA accreditation is tribute to his time at the helm,” said Mayor John Suthers.