Jann Scott

April 29 2026 By Jann Scott Boulder, long celebrated as a progressive, open community that values transparency, accountability, and trust between citizens and law enforcement, now faces a serious leadership crisis at its Police Department. Chief Stephen Redfearn must be fired immediately. His decision to encrypt police radio communications and deny broad news media access to scanner traffic represents a dangerous step toward secrecy that misjudges the very character of this city. dailycamera.com He als denied access to this very news org and individual crime reporters

Redfearn claims encryption protects officer safety and prevents criminals from monitoring movements. These concerns echo national trends, yet in Boulder’s context, they ring hollow. The department offered a handful of select outlets costly encrypted radios tied to restrictive contracts that limit real-time reporting and expose media to liability—conditions major outlets like the Daily Camera rightly rejected. Public scanner access, a longstanding tool for journalists to alert the community to unfolding events like emergencies, fires, or incidents, has been curtailed. Redfearn’s team insists this enhances inter-agency coordination and privacy, but the move effectively hides real-time police activity from the public eye.

This isn’t transparency; it’s control. Boulder residents expect open government, not a department that decides what the press—and by extension, the people—can know in the moment. History shows scanner listening rarely compromises operations but frequently empowers timely, accurate reporting that holds everyone accountable. By restricting it while promising “dashboards” and delayed releases, Redfearn underestimates Boulder’s sophisticated, engaged citizenry that demands real oversight, not curated narratives. bouldercolorado.gov

Redfearn’s tenure has been marked by controversy, including past scrutiny from his Aurora days and local tensions over oversight and community relations. Boulder’s crime picture is mixed—property crimes have declined in recent years, yet residents still grapple with theft, safety perceptions, and calls for balanced policing. A chief who prioritizes encryption over partnership misreads this town’s ethos of openness. Progressive Boulder rejects opacity; it thrives on sunlight. boulderreportinglab.orgCity leaders must act now. Replace Redfearn with a chief who respects Boulder’s values—someone committed to genuine access, not restrictions dressed as safety. Our community deserves policing that builds trust through visibility, not walls. Fire Chief Redfearn before more damage is done to the public’s right to know.Jann Scott, Boulder Channel 1 News. Voice of reason in Boulder since 1989.