DENVER BPO
1880s
← Back to the collection BPO · 02 · History

Our Legacy

Black officers have worn the Denver badge for more than 140 years. Their courage opened the doors we walk through today.

The Timeline

  1. 1880s

    Isaac Brown

    Appointed by Mayor Richard Sopris as Denver's first Black police officer. No known photograph of him survives.

  2. 1881

    John Bell

    Hired as the city's second Black officer.

  3. Late 1880s

    On patrol

    I.G. Gilmore, T.T. Bruce, J.M. Williams and Thomas Riley begin walking Denver's beats.

  4. 1896

    Ulysses & Carl Baker

    Brothers hired as patrolmen who later became Denver's first Black detectives.

  5. 1921

    Officer Willie O. Steam

    The first Black Denver officer killed in the line of duty. We honor his sacrifice.

  6. 1959

    Charles "CT" Smith

    Joins DPD and serves 36 years, rising to division chief. He was later honored by the Denver Police Museum and the Denver Black Police Officers Association.

  7. 1970s

    Carole Hogue

    Becomes Denver's first Black woman officer. She serves 15 years and retires as a sergeant.

  8. Today

    Our story continues

    Our members carry this legacy forward in every district of the city.

Sources

Learn more

Facts on this page come from CBS Colorado, Denver7 and the records of the Denver Police Museum.

Add the BPO's founding year, founding members and key milestones of the organization itself.