Durango Police Chief Bob Brammer, who was appointed to the job in 2019 and spent over 20 years in law enforcement, will be tabbed as a second assistant city manager alongside Erin Hyder.
The transition will take place in late spring or early summer, following the recruitment of a new police chief.
City Manager José Madrigal announced the transition during Tuesday’s Durango City Council meeting. He said many high priority projects are slated for 2024, and Brammer demonstrated “tremendous leadership” at the helm of DPD and in executive leadership team meetings between the city manager and department directors.
Brammer’s promotion will require the hiring of a new police chief. At Brammer’s recommendation, the city will launch a nationwide search for applicants, Madrigal said.
He said residents will have input about the selection of a new police chief, given its critical role in the city, adding City Council can expect the matter to come before it for approval around that late spring-early summer time frame.
Brammer will continue to oversee the police department in the meantime.
He said he’s humbled by the opportunity to work in the city manager’s office.
“Durango’s a great community and I think that I’d like to add to that in whatever capacity it is. I’m here to serve. It’s what we do,” he said. “I’m definitely looking forward to this opportunity for growth. It’s a challenge.”
Brammer, 53, first joined the Durango Police Department in 2005 as a patrol officer. He moved through the ranks, also working as a detective, SWAT sniper and commander of Operations Support.
He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2018 and graduated from Colorado State University in May with a Master’s degree in organizational leadership. He is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. His wife, Michol, is the principal at Animas Valley Elementary.
Brammer said he hopes the next Durango police chief will keep the police department moving in a positive direction while adding fresh perspectives.
A challenge in the next five years or so will be making sure the agency has adequate resources and facilities to accommodate growth, he said. The agency is already cramped for space at its existing police station at 990 East Second Ave.
Brammer said he has accomplished most of what he set out to do as police chief and was ready for a new challenge.
“This continues my journey within the city of Durango to serve here in my hometown community that I love so much and want to be a part of,” Brammer said. “That’s the most exciting part of being able to take on the next step, the next journey.”
A city spokesman did not immediately provide Brammer’s current salary or what he will be paid as an assistant city manager. But based on the city’s 2024 pay plan, both positions have the same salary range, from $131,049 to $203,127.
Madrigal said the promotion might help the city retain Brammer, for whom retirement might be becoming more enticing.
“I think this move helps Chief Brammer stay in the organization longer with his career, gives him a new challenge, and (gives) us the ability to keep him longer than maybe if he’d stayed as a police chief and retirement might have been starting to look really well for him,” he said.
Mayor Melissa Youssef said it will be tough to find Brammer’s successor.
“We have been so fortunate to have you in this role as chief of police,” she said. “ … You’ve done an outstanding job just committed to the safety and security of our residents.”
Herald staff writer Shane Benjamin contributed to this report.
cburney@durangoherald.com
