Durango Police

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

🏍️ Durango is about to get a little louder.

The 33rd Four Corners Motorcycle Rally rolls into town Sept. 3–6, followed immediately by Labor Day. That means a lot more motorcycles, vehicles, and people sharing our roads this weekend.

So, instead of another generic safety lecture, here's the Rally Weekend Road Guide:
🏍️ Look twice for motorcycles. Check mirrors and blind spots before turning or changing lanes.
🚗 Give riders some room. Motorcycles are smaller, harder to see, and much less forgiving when something goes wrong.
↔️ Know the difference between lane filtering and lane splitting. Colorado allows motorcycles to filter through completely stopped traffic at no more than 15 mph when it can be done safely. Passing between moving vehicles is still illegal.
🪖 Riders, gear up. A helmet and protective gear give you a fighting chance when somebody else makes a mistake.
🍺 Plan the ride home before the first drink. If you're drinking, park the bike and find another way home.

Most importantly, bring a little patience with you this weekend.

More bikes. More traffic. Same roads. Let's share them.

09/02/2026

At tonight’s City Council meeting, Chief Brice Current announced that DPD will not renew its Flock Safety contract in 2027 and will transition its automated license plate reader program to Axon.

ALPR will remain an important investigative tool. What is changing is the provider, along with stronger limits on how long information may be accessed and retained.

DPD’s safeguards include:
• Same as before, every search must be connected to a specific case or investigation and serve an authorized, legitimate law-enforcement purpose.
• Effective immediately, routine access is limited to information collected during the preceding seven days.
• Searches involving information more than seven days old require reasonable suspicion, supervisor approval, and documentation.
• Routine ALPR information will not be retained for more than 21 days unless it must be lawfully preserved.

“The easy choice is to choose public safety or privacy. The harder, and more responsible, choice is to insist on both.”

Read the full statement:
https://www.durangoco.gov/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/4836

08/29/2026

Honoring Corporal Gale Emerson and Firefighter N.P. “Nick” Parks III

This week, we paid tribute to Durango Police Corporal Gale Emerson and Durango Firefighter N.P. "Nick" Parks III, who lost their lives while serving our community on August 24, 1974.

Early that morning, a fire was reported in the 800 block of Main Avenue in downtown Durango. As the fire spread, police officers and firefighters worked side by side to evacuate residents from nearby apartments and to protect the heart of our city.

During those efforts, the building exploded, and a brick wall collapsed, killing Corporal Emerson and Firefighter Parks. Investigators later determined the fire was arson. Both men were 24 years old.

Corporal Emerson had gone off duty at 3 a.m. but returned to duty to help with evacuations. Firefighter Parks, who had served with the Durango Fire Department since 1972, was also a Reserve Officer with the Durango Police Department and served in the Army Reserve. Both men answered the call without hesitation.

Their loss was deeply felt by their families, their departments, and the Durango community. Corporal Emerson left behind his wife, Sue, who was pregnant with their son, Jarod. Firefighter Parks left behind his wife, Loretta, who was pregnant with their daughter, Nicki Nicole.

Their courage, service, and sacrifice remain part of Durango’s story. Their names live on through their families, the Emerson-Parks Bridge, the memorial in the Durango Police Department lobby, and every first responder who continues to serve this community with bravery and dedication.

Please join us in honoring Corporal Gale Emerson and Firefighter Nick Parks.

May they never be forgotten.

08/28/2026

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE + BREWFEST WEEKEND 🍻

The San Juan Brewfest is back at Buckley Park this weekend, which means a temporary closure on Main Avenue.
📍 1200 block of Main Avenue
🗓 Friday, Aug. 28 through Saturday, Aug. 29
⏰ Closure begins at 10:30 a.m. Friday and remains in place until approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday

If you’re headed to Brewfest, have a plan before the first pour.
The Designated Driver Lounge gives DDs a shaded place to hang out along with mocktails and other non-alcoholic options. We’re proud to join Four Corners Broadcasting, Radio 101 KIQX Durango 101.3 FM, and KRSJ 100.5 FM Your Brand of Country in supporting the DD Lounge.

And your DD isn’t the only option. City of Durango - Durango Transportation transit is free both days of Brewfest.
Enjoy the festival. Know your limit. Make the ride home decision before you start drinking.

🍺 Friday Brewfest: 5–8 p.m.
🍺 Saturday Brewfest: 1–5 p.m., with VIP entry at noon.

More Brewfest information: San Juan Brewfest

08/26/2026

🚨 We asked our officers how many years they’ve served in law enforcement…
Then we made them that age. 😂
Five years on the job? Congratulations, you’re 5 years old again.
Nineteen years? Welcome back to 19.
Two months? Well… somebody needs a crib. 👶
👮‍♀️👮‍♂️ ➡️ ⏪ ➡️👶
Enjoy the throwbacks. Turns out experience looks a lot different when you turn the number of years served into their actual age.

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

The first day of school means an important reminder for drivers on Florida Road:

When the school zone lights are flashing, the speed limit is 20 mph.

The speed cameras on Florida Road enforce the school zone speed limit when the lights are active.

Slow down, watch for students, and give yourself a little extra time as you drive through the area. Twenty miles per hour may feel slow, but getting kids to and from school safely is worth every second.

08/24/2026

Sometimes the internet tells one version of the story.
Fortunately, we have video.
A Reddit post claimed a Durango Police drone watched a group of people skate for 15 minutes and that an officer confirmed police were using it to watch them.
So, we checked the receipts.
The video below includes:
• The drone’s actual flight path
• The drone footage
• The officer’s body-worn camera footage of the conversation referenced in the post
No speculation. No “he said, she said.” Just the footage so you can see what actually happened and decide for yourself.
Turns out, context has a pretty good camera angle.