IGNACIO – Residents gathered Thursday at Ignacio Town Hall to celebrate the retirement of Police Chief Kirk Phillips, who served 32 years with the department and more than 40 years total in law enforcement.
It was also a chance to pass the torch to Phillips’ successor, Wes Crume, who was named Ignacio’s next chief of police.
As the retirement ceremony was underway, the Ignacio mayor took to the lectern to make a proclamation: “Therefore let it be resolved that I, Mayor Clark Craig, recognize Chief Kirk Phillips for all of his services and contributions to the town of Ignacio and declare May 31, 2024, as Chief Kirk Phillips day in Ignacio, Colorado.”
The proclamation went on to say that Phillips will be sorely missed by Ignacio residents.
“Chief Phillips has provided exemplary leadership and direction to his staff who are part of a professional and highly functioning police department that has very little turnover,” the mayor said. “Chief Phillips has always expressed compassion for victims, has gone to bat for the underdogs and has always done his utmost for the welfare of the Ignacio community.”
Town Manager Mark Garcia and several of Phillips’ colleagues in the department commemorated the police chief’s career.
Phillips’ career in law enforcement began with the Ignacio Police Department in 1983. After a five-year stint there, he served the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office from 1988-94. He then went to the Southern Ute Police Department from 1994-98, before returning to the Ignacio Police Department where he would serve the next 25 years as police chief.
In one of the most touching moments of Thursday’s retirement ceremony, Phillips removed the patch he wore for 25 years and pinned it on the chest of his successor, Crume, formerly a sergeant, who has been Phillips’ friend and colleague for three decades in law enforcement.
“It makes it a lot easier for me to leave knowing that the department is in good hands,” Phillips said.
Also promoted was Officer Ryan Boyce, who rose to the rank of sergeant.
Looking back on his career, Phillips recalled being one three officers with the Ignacio Police Department in 1983 and watching the force more than triple in size to 10 officers today.
He said that over his tenure he has worked to help grow and strengthen the relationship between the police force and the community.
“We’ve enjoyed very good community support,” Phillips said. “We have officers that coach football, baseball and wrestling. So we have a lot of community involvement.”
Phillips said the close relationship between the community and his department has been helped by a view of policing that goes above and beyond just enforcing the law.
“We don’t try to be heavy-handed. We deal with issues that aren’t completely police-related issues, they’re quality-of-life issues,” he said. “And since we’re a smaller agency, we have the ability to spend more time and work those issues out. So it doesn’t become a bigger problem.”
Ignacio is surrounded on three sides by the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, which has its own Southern Ute Police Department. Phillips expressed gratitude for the SUPD and highlighted the two departments’ close working relationship.
“Having worked there for four years prior to coming here, our relationship with the other police department is very good,” he said. “We rely on each other on a daily basis, and without their help it would be much harder.”
Throughout his time as police chief, three homicides have occurred within his jurisdiction. He took pride in saying that all had been cleared by arrest, with two already adjudicated and the final going through the judicial process.
Born in Moab, Utah, Phillips has lived in Ignacio all of his adult life. A high school friend who was a police officer in town knew Phillips was interested in law enforcement and let him know there was an opening. Once in Ignacio, Phillips met his wife, settled down and the rest is history.
Sharing his plans for retirement, Phillips said, “I think the standard response is that you really want to spend more time with your family, and my grandkids are into sports so that’s awesome, and my wife has got a whole list of things she wants done.”
Although he is looking forward to retired life, Phillips recognized there will be some growing pains.
“For 40 years, every day has been structured,” he said. “… Monday morning I’m going to wake up at 5 a.m., I know; it’s ingrained in my head. But some friends were here that retired from law enforcement, and they say it takes a few months, but then eventually you ask, why didn’t I do this sooner?”
Transitioning into retirement will be made easier, Phillips said, in knowing that he is leaving behind a lasting legacy for his community.
“From a young age, I wanted to help people,” he said. “And I wanted to make my community safer. I think I’ve accomplished that.”
nmetcalf@durangoherald.com
