Vince Niski sworn in as new Colorado Springs Police Chief

Mayor John Suthers selected Interim Chief of Police Vince Niski as the next Police Chief of Colorado Springs, and he was sworn in after being confirmed by the city council Tuesday.

Niski has served as Deputy Chief since 2012 and has been with CSPD for 30 years.

“Vince Niski is a man with great integrity, and who has proven his leadership abilities as Deputy Chief over the last seven years,” Suthers said.

During Niski’s time with CSPD, he has worked in the patrol, traffic, metro vice, narcotics, and intelligence divisions.

He told KRDO he never imagined when he first started he’d be CSPD’s chief someday.

“Never even thought about being a sergeant when I came on the department. This is one of the best departments in the country and I couldn’t be more happy and humbled to be the next chief,” Niski said.

Niski said his goals are getting traffic fatalities under control, staffing and homeless outreach.

“We added another body to the homeless outreach team. We’re coordinating our efforts with the Sheriff’s Office to hopefully have a joint operation where we collaboratively work together to solve the problem,” Niski said.

Those goals are the same things previous chief Pete Carey said would be his successor’s biggest challenges.

KRDO asked Mayor John Suthers why he decided to go with a successor so similar to Carey.

“I think we have an excellent police department I think we’re attracting high quality and so I want to continue what we’ve got and perhaps improve in particular areas. I think if you talk to the council members who were involved in the interview process that’s where we should be and Vince filled that bill,” Suthers said.

“I want to thank Mayor Suthers for the selection and pending the approval of City Council, I look forward to working hard to further CSPD’s commitment to integrity and excellence in serving and protecting my home town,” Niski said.