12 Pikes Peak Courier
P I K E S
LIFE
May 13, 2015
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Cripple Creek Police Chief Mike Rulo, left, gave a gag gift to Woodland Park Police Chief Bob Larson – “Here is an autographed photo of me,” Rulo said. Rulo preceded Larson as Woodland Park’s Police Chief. Rulo gave Larson the gift at Larson’s retirement party May 5. Photo by Jim Halloran
More than 300 people bid farewell to Woodland Park Police Chief Bob Larson, who is retiring this month. After glowing tributes from officials and friends, Larson cut the bake baked by Sweet Escapes bakery in Woodland Park. Photo by Pat Hill
Former Woodland Park police chiefs showed up to Chief Bob Larson’s retirement Photo by Pat Hill
Community bids farewell to chief By Pat Hill
phill@coloradocommunitymedia.com More than 200 people said goodbye to Woodland Park Police Chief Bob Larson May 5 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center. After 44 years as a law-enforcement officer, Larson is retiring and, with his wife, Chris, plans to move to Charlevoix, Mich. Praised for his quiet leadership, inspiration and wisdom, Larson joined the department nearly 36 years ago, serving as chief for the past 16. “Bob Larson has dedicated his life to law enforcement and leaves a department that is well-run, wellequipped and fully understands the role of policing in a small mountain town,” said David Buttery, city manager and master of ceremonies. A parade of accolades was an insight to Larson’s intrinsic leadership abilities. “I enjoy Bob’s wisdom, his wisdom his wit - it’s as dry as a west Texas breeze,” Buttery said. “He’s been a wise counsel to me through many cases, officer-involved
shootings, fires, floods; he was always there to give me sound advice so that we could make the best decisions for our community.” Deputy Chief Miles de Young referred to Larson as a pillar of the law-enforcement community. “His leaving is going to be felt,” he said. “He’s so much more than just a police officer.” Beverly Hodges, the chief’s administrative assistant, was emotional. “He is a man of many strengths who led the department into the 21st century,” she said. Mike Rulo, who preceded the chief as the top cop, pinpointed Larson’s leadership of a team that, in many respects, is like a family. “You’ve got spouses, significant others, children and dogs, emotional problems, financial problems, things that you are there to support a team working under such difficult conditions,” Rulo said. “Bob is one of the great survivors, dominators of the profession.” During times of turmoil, Larson steered the team as well as the community through
the Hayman and Waldo Canyon fires, along with the homicides, a few bomb threats, drug labs, parades and fireworks displays, said John Gomes, former deputy chief under Larson and current Teller County Undersheriff. “In the midst of all of that, the chief provided operations, made sure accidents and drug labs were investigated, made sure criminal investigations happened,” Gomes said. “He guided everybody though that.” Mayor Neil Levy added a perspective of Larson who, with his family, would have Sunday Brunch at the Swiss Chalet, “I could see in his eyes how much he enjoyed his family - they always came in after church,” said Levy, who owns the restaurant. Larson’s quiet leadership provided the community a sense of safety, Levy said. “You’ll be missed and we can never repay what you have done for our community,” he said. As a permanent sign of gratitude, a painting of Larson on his horse will grace the “History of Us” mural on the east wall
of the Ute Pass Cultural Center. “Chief, this is not just a gift from your colleagues and friends, this is a statement from the community that says, `thank you,’” said Scott Stearman, sculptor and chairman of the WP Arts Alliance, which sponsors the mural to be designed and painted by Lois Sprague. After all that praise, Larson was invited up to the podium, where, as expected, his words were brief. “People have said a lot of nice things about me; the stuff we’re talking about are things that we have done, not things that I have done,” he said. Reflecting on comments from an officer who arrived at the small department after serving in Colorado Springs, Larson repeated the officer’s musings. “He said there’s a big difference here because `people like us,’” Larson said. “We had tough times and good times but people like us. Thank you all.” And Larson left the stage to a standing ovation from 200 people.