Gov. Polis apologizes for death of Christian Glass

May 24 called Christian Glass Day

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis apologized to the parents of Christian Glass, the 22-year-old killed by a Clear Creek deputy in Silver Plume last year. He then declared May 24 Christian Glass Day and displayed Glass’ artwork that will be hung in the Capitol.

“What happened to Christian should not have happened,” Polis told Glass’ parents, Simon and Sally, in a live-steamed announcement on Facebook on May 24. “We are going to do the best we can to avoid any parents going through what you have gone through.” e announcement came a day after the family agreed to a $19-million settlement in the death. e state, Clear Creek County and two other agencies agreed to the settlement. O cers from multiple agencies were at the scene the night Glass was killed.

Clear Creek County is responsible for $10 million; Georgetown $5 million; the state $3 million; and Idaho Springs $1 million. It is the largest known single payout for police violence in the state’s history.

Glass died on the night of June 1011, 2022, after he called 911 for help because he was stranded in his car.

O cers asked Glass to leave his car, but he refused in what turned into an extended stando and mental health crisis that ended when o cers broke a car window and used a Taser on Glass. Clear Creek Sheri ’s Deputy Andrew Buen shot Glass, killing him. Buen and another o cer, Kyle Gould, were later red and are facing charges, including second-degree murder.

Mom Sally Glass thanked Polis, saying the family didn’t want Christian to be forgotten.

“If he’s oating around, he would be so proud and happy to have his art displayed in the state Capitol,” she said. “His memory will live on in our hearts and minds.”

Dad Simon Glass added that what happened to Christian was a terrible crime.

“We hope it never happens again in Colorado or ideally the country,” he said.

Polis ended the short announcement by saying, “ ank you for sharing some of Christian with Colorado. is is a reminder of how we can do better, so these tragedies don’t happen again.”

More about Christian

According to a statement about

Christian on the website of RathodMohamedbhai, the attorneys for the Glass family, “Christian was a young man of many talents with kindness that knew no bounds. Christian was loved beyond measure by his parents, sisters, extended family, friends, and community.

“Christian was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, by his mother, Sally Glass, who is of British decent, and his father, Simon Glass, who is from New Zealand. e Glass family relocated to California when Christian was 10 and eventually moved to Boulder, Colorado.

“Christian had an array of specialties and interests. He was an avid tennis fan and player, a trained chef who loved to cook, and also a self-taught artist with an innate gift. Christian used many mediums to make his art, but the majority of his pieces involved oil painting and oil pencil.”

More about the settlement

A statement from Clear Creek Sheri Rick Albers acknowledged “that his o cers failed to meet expectations in their response to Christian Glass when he called for assistance,” calling events on the night of Glass’ death “disturbing.”

“ e sheri has undertaken measures intended to prevent a future failure,” a statement in the wake of the settlement announcement read. “He has been working with partners to establish a program of countywide crisis response. “

Albers also acknowledged that the “initial press release” describing events surrounding Glass’ death “did not give an accurate description of what occurred.” e Clear Creek Sheri ’s O ce also has agreed to train and certify all its patrol o cers in crisis intervention. e rm added that the Colorado State Patrol will develop a virtual reality training based on Glass’ death, with “a focus on de-escalation in a high-stress situation.” e Town of Georgetown released a statement calling Glass’ death “avoidable.”

“Rather, as stated in the conclusion of the investigative report subsequently issued by the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce after an independent review requested by Sheri Albers, the deputy who killed Christian Glass used lethal force that ‘was not consistent with that of a reasonable o cer,’” the statement read.

“ ese agreements recognize the critical importance that law enforcement respond to emergencies, including situations involving mental health crises, with professionalism, empathy and an emphasis on deescalation,” a statement from the the Rathod-Mohamedbhai law rm stated.

In addition to the millions of dollars, Clear Creek County has agreed to dedicate a public park to Glass, which will be selected in consultation with his parents.

“Georgetown will devote the resources necessary to developing new and better ways for identifying and providing assistance to those, like Christian, who need it most,” the statement read.

Georgetown added that o cers have been attending courses in intensive crisis intervention responses and are participating in a “countywide co-responder program that allows for the presence of a mental health professional and paramedic tandem to assist law enforcement in future settings.”

Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck

Harmon, in a statement on behalf of the city council, said: “We hope that settlement of this matter can provide closure to the many people involved. City leadership remains committed to the constant self-evaluation and betterment of the (Idaho Springs Police Department) in all ways.”

Idaho Springs, the statement added, “continues to work collaboratively with the Je erson Center for Mental Health, which has a licensed clinician ride with an o cer/deputy each week for community outreach.” e statement also said that “ISPD also continues to develop a mental health co-responder program within Clear Creek County.”

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