Chief Matt Smith
Deputy Chief Gary Marak
Deputy Chief William Baker
Deputy Chief Shawn Hasty
Police Chiefs Through the Years

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Police Chiefs Through the Years

Police Chiefs Through the Years

Matt Smith (2022-Present)

Chief Matt Smith has called Grand Junction home for over 25 years. He began his law enforcement career with the Cortez Police Department before joining the Grand Junction Police Department in 1999. Rising through the ranks, he’s held roles in both Services and Operations, including patrol, investigations, SWAT, school resources, training, and more.

Throughout his distinguished career, Chief Smith has placed a strong emphasis on community partnerships, problem-solving, and accountability—especially in the face of criminal activity and critical incidents. He believes that good police work is rooted in honesty, humility, and leading by example.

Douglas Shoemaker (2018-2022)

Chief Shoemaker was recruited as a Deputy Chief from Jefferson City, Missouri. During his tenure, he prioritized increased staffing and implemented changes to the officer uniform to enhance professionalism and functionality. In 2022, he left to serve as the Chief of Police in Denton, Texas.

John Camper (2009-2017)

Chief Camper was initially hired as the interim chief from the Lakewood Police Department. Not long after, he was officially pinned as Chief of Police and served for eight years. He saw the creation of the new public safety campus. Chief Camper established the Co-Responder Unit to enhance mental health crisis response and restarted the Street Crimes Unit to address community safety concerns. He left to become the Director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigations.

William ‘Bill’ Gardener (2006-2009)

Chief Gardener previously served as the La Plata County Sheriff and Undersheriff of Mesa County before joining the GJPD. He was hired to restore staffing levels and focused on strengthening employee relationships during his tenure. His leadership helped stabilize the department. He retired in 2009.

Greg Morrison (2001-2006)

Chief Morrison was previously the Chief of Police in Vail. During his tenure at GJPD, he prioritized community policing and strengthening connections between officers and the public. He established assigned designated beats for officers, fostered stronger relationships within neighborhoods and enhanced public safety through proactive engagement.

Gary Konzak (1997-1999)

Chief Konzak was the Chief in Carol Stream, Illinois before coming to the GJPD. Chief Konzak facilitated the department’s first in-car computers and a computerized the Law Records Management System (LRMS). He made significant upgrades to the department crime lab and implemented GJPDs first Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). Unfortunately, in 1999, he chose to step down due to health issues.

Darold Sloan (1991-1996)

Chief Sloan previously served as the Arapahoe County Undersheriff and had experience working in Littleton, Colorado, and Ogallala, Nebraska. Chief Sloan oversaw the re-location of the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center (GJRCC) to a much larger and more modern facility, the installation of an upgraded E911 system, and the implementation of the call volume patrol team staffing concept.

Robert Evers (1988-1991)

Chief Evers started his career as a GJPD dispatcher and records clerk in 1963. He worked at the Grand Junction Police Department for the duration of his career and retired in 1991. Under Chief Evers, the GJPD became the fourth agency in Colorado and 123rd in the US to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Law Enforcement Accreditation.

Gary Leonard (1982-1988)

Chief Leonard began his law enforcement career in San Jose, California. He later moved to the Greeley Police Department where he was an Operations Commander. While Chief of GJPD, he oversaw a major police station modernization and expansion. He focused on recruitment, improved training, and professionalism.

Ed VanderTook (1976-1982)

Chief VanderTook was from Rifle, Colorado but grew up in Missouri. He returned to Colorado in 1957 to join the GJPD after being Chief of Police of Walnut, Arkansas. Over time, he worked his way up to Captain and then was appointed Chief. He was also the president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police.

Ben Meyers (1974-1976)

Chief Meyers came from the Salem, Oregon Police department where he served as Chief for eight years. At Grand Junction PD, he implemented a major reorganization of the department. Other operational and call response changes were made to focus resources to better service the public.

Karl M. Johnson (1954-1974)

Chief Johnson was the longest serving GJPD Chief. He brought professionalism and training to the Grand Junction Police Department. Originally from Moab, he moved to Grand Junction to attend Mesa College. Before his law enforcement career, he worked as the principal of Pear Park School. He joined the GJPD in 1942 and dedicated decades to its growth and development. After retiring from the department, he continued his commitment to public service, serving two terms as a city councilman before becoming Mayor.

Joe W. Keith (1942-1954)

Chief Keith was the youngest Chief the GJPD has had. He served as the interim chief for four months before being pinned at just 31 years old. During his tenure, the department’s first two-way radios and crime scene cameras were purchased. He resigned in 1954 due to his failing health.

Marion H Scott (1939-1942)

Chief Scott was recruited from Wichita, Kansas Police Department where he had served for fourteen years. He left GJPD after three years to return to Kansas as the chief of the Hutchinson Police Department.

Hardy E. Decker (1927-1939)

Chief Decker was a nationally recognized fingerprint expert. He modernized the GJPD from the “horse and buggy to the machine age” by implementing structural changes to include many scientific investigative methods. He was later appointed to serve as Mesa County Sheriff.

Samuel Frank Clifton (1925-1927)

Chief Clifton moved to Grand Junction from Missouri. He served many years as an officer before being appointed Chief. After retirement, he left to become a railroad Special Agent in Kansas City, Kansas.

Bert Watson (1922-1925)

Chief Watson was the son of former Chief Jefferson Watson and was a former Mesa County Undersheriff of six years.

William C. Herrman (1916-1922)

Chief Herrman was originally from Illinois. He resigned in 1922 when the City of Grand Junction went from a mayoral to city manager form of government. He passed away in 1934.

Charles Wallis (1913-1915)

Chief Wallis served his second tenure at the GJPD before resigning to pursue a career in the livestock business. Notably, during his time in office, a mayoral order was passed on November 1, 1915, requiring the Chief and all police officers to wear uniforms—a mandate that Wallis himself never followed.

John A. Matthews (1913)

Chief Matthews was abruptly appointed upon the resignation of Sheppard Hutchinson. Chief Matthews himself resigned as a chief after eight months due to public pressure from prohibitionists. He returned to being a regular police officer.

Sheppard B. Hutchinson (1911-1913)

Chief Hutchinson was sworn in as the only Socialist police chief in the US. He later resigned amid public pressure over his political views and his handling of a mob of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) members. The group had been invited to Grand Junction for a convention by the Mayor and Chief, leading to significant controversy and ultimately his resignation.

G. Burdette Welch (1909-1911)

Chief Welch first joined GJPD as an officer. He was appointed Chief after a shakeup in city government. He later resigned amidst accusations of protecting bootleggers.

Jefferson Watson (1909)

Jeff Watson served his second tenure at GJPD, this time with the title of Chief of Police

Chris C. O’Neil (1907-1909)

Chief O’Neil was the first official Chief of the Grand Junction Police Department, a title change prompted by a new state law. During his tenure, police officers received the first official police uniforms but they weren’t ordered to wear them.

Prior to 1909, our “Chief” was known as “Marshal”

Charles Wallis (1905-1907)

Marshal Wallis was in his first tenure at the Grand Junction Police Department. He left to be the Mesa County Undersheriff and was previously the Sheriff of Mesa County.

Jefferson Davis Watson (1903-1905)

Marshal Watson was a former saloon owner and a cattle rancher from Virginia. He served multiple terms as Sheriff of Mesa County. A forty-year resident of Grand Junction, he later retired to Venice, California.

John J Allison (1900-1903)

Marshal Allison was from Sedalia, Missouri. After serving three years as Marshal, he was the Street Commissioner, a Peace Officer, and a Truant officer. He retired after seventeen years of service to the city.

William M. Mann (1896-1900)

Marshal Mann was a Civil War veteran from Ohio and was a friend of Buffalo Bill Cody. After leaving the department, he moved to Klondike, Alaska and then to Modesto California. He passed away in 1922.

William James Short Henderson (1894-1896)

Marshal Henderson was originally from Ireland but moved to New York, where he enlisted to serve in the Civil War for the Union Army. After returning home, he relocated to the Grand Valley in about 1890 and served at the Grand Junction Police Department. He lived in Grand Junction for 25 years, dedicating much of his life to the community. Due to health issues, he later moved to California where he passed away in 1914.

T.A. Ketchum (1893-1894)

Marshal Ketchum was previously a Liveryman. After serving as Marshal, he became a Special Agent (railroad police) with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. He later moved to Oregon.

Fred W. Halbouer (1892-1893)

Marshal Halbouer, originally from Illinois, arrived in Grand Junction in the 1880's. Beyond his role in law enforcement, he became a prominent community leader, serving as the President of the original U.S. Bank of Grand Junction. He was also actively involved in the real estate and mortgage loan business.

M. F. Fredericks (1892)

Marshal Fredericks was a police officer for the three years before becoming the interim Marshal. He was appointed the permanent Marshal position on the morning of October 11th. Eight hours later, he was replaced after council reconsidered. He later ran the Post Office Bookstore. He left Grand Junction in 1914 and lived in Venice, California.

Ben F. Reagan (1892)

Marshal Reagan was originally from Virginia and came to Gunnison County as a prospector. He later moved to Grand Junction and served as the Marshal. After being terminated, he became a local farmer.

George R. Barton (1890-1892)

Marshal Barton lived in Salt Lake City, Utah until he moved to Grand Junction in 1882. He worked as a liveryman and ran a stagecoach with T.A. Ketchum. He passed away in 1926.

Barney K. Kennedy (1889-1890)

Marshal Kennedy was another early pioneer resident of Grand Junction. He ran the first horse drawn streetcar. After serving as the Marshal, he moved to the Rico and Telluride area. He passed away in 1898 in Alaska while searching for Klondike gold.

William A. Lynch (1888)

Marshal Lynch, originally from Nova Scotia, was known as an early pioneer resident of Grand Junction. He was a partner in the Brunswick Hotel and later managed multiple businesses, including another hotel and a saloon. His tenure as marshal ended following the tragic death of his daughter. Lynch remained a notable figure in the community until his passing in 1925.

Charles B. Hayes (1886-1888)

Marshal Hayes was the highest paid city official at $75 a month. He later worked on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

Jack F Barrett (1884-1886)

Marshal Barrett was the first deputy City Marshal and was promoted to full Marshal after Marshal Van Horn resigned. At the time, he was considered “The Best Marshal We’ve Ever Had” by the Grand Junction News. After serving as Marshal, he again served as Deputy Marshal.

Sam Van Horn (1884)

Marshal Van Horn also served as Mesa County Public Trustee. His monthly salary was $90. He resigned in 1884 to visit family in Illinois.

Tim Crowley (1883-1884)

Marshal Crowley served one term as Marshal. He faced a high-profile trial for the department’s second officer involved shooting but was ultimately acquitted. Later in his career, he returned to law enforcement as Deputy Marshal under Marshal Van Horn. During his time as Marshal, he earned a monthly salary of $75.

James R Davis (1882-1883)

Marshal Davis was the first Marshal of Grand Junction, earning a monthly salary of $65. As Marshal, he was involved in the department’s first officer involved shooting. A coroner’s inquest determined the shooting was justified. Marshal Davis Resigned in April 1883.