Wheat Ridge Police Department

We continue to see progress on property crimes and an overall decrease in crime in Wheat Ridge this year.

Our commitment to sharing monthly activity wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our Crime Analyst and our Administrative Program Coordinator who put this report together.

Here’s what we can report through April 2026.

We break up our crimes into two main buckets: persons and property crimes. The following grid shows our cases for each of those crimes with a breakdown over the past five months. The bottom row shows the total number of cases for those crimes per month.

Persons crimes hit levels are typical for April, while property crime levels were moderately low. The year-to-date (YTD) activity level compares where we are through the year compared to that same time frame averaged over the past five years. Calls for persons crimes rose roughly 7% in through April compared to the same time frame in 2025. Calls for property crimes were down nearly 14%.

We’re seeing encouraging drops in calls for crimes including burglary (down 31%), motor vehicle theft (down 63%) and 1st-degree criminal trespass (down 57%).

We recognize an increase in reports of sexual assault within our community so far this year. Our department is committed to supporting survivors by ensuring they have direct access to the specialized care, resources and paths to safety they deserve.

To ensure comprehensive support, we partner closely with Victim Outreach Incorporated (VOI), whose advocates provide vital resources and ensure survivors never have to navigate the system alone. Additionally, we connect individuals with the vital, specialized services available at The Family Tree and the PorchLight, A Family Justice Center.

You are not alone, and our priority is your safety, autonomy, and well-being.

All this being said, we can’t solve crimes we don’t know about. If you see something, say something and call 911. Thank you for caring about our community as much as we do, so we can continue to make Wheat Ridge one of the safest communities in Colorado.

One of the largest classes in WRPD history 👀

Please give a warm Wheat Ridge welcome to the EIGHT fine people that just graduated from the Combined Regional Academy! These folks started learning the ropes to become P.O.S.T. certified officers in January and have been working hard ever since until this moment. This is an incredible accomplishment.

Starting Monday, they will learn the Wheat Ridge way, as they grow to understand our culture, Relationship-Based Policing and shadow their Field Training Officers for the next four to five months.

This academy class also puts our department in the strongest staffing position we’ve seen during Chief Murtha’s tenure, allowing us to bolster patrol and respond to emergencies even faster. We appreciate our community’s continued support of our mission. Because you support our department and our purpose, we have become a destination.

Congratulations, and welcome to the WRPD Family 👏 👏 👏

CASE UPDATE: Our preliminary investigation indicates the box truck’s brakes failed as the driver was trying to exit I-70 going east. The driver went across a grassy shoulder to avoid parked cars and tried to continue onto Kipling St. before tipping over. No criminal charges are warranted in this case.

UPDATE: All lanes of Kipling are back open. Thank you for your patience.

TRAFFIC ALERT: WRPD is on scene for a single box truck rollover crash near I-70 and Kipling. All northbound lanes on Kipling St. are shut down near I-70 Frontage Road South.

Four people were transported to the hospital as a precaution. No serious injuries to report. Please avoid this area as we investigate.

Every bottle counts 💧

The Wheat Ridge Homeless Navigation Program is collecting donations of clean, reusable water bottles to help support individuals experiencing homelessness during summer outreach efforts.

Water is one of the most requested and essential items during the hottest months of the year. Your donation will be distributed directly to community members in need.

Donation deadline: July 31, 2026
Drop-off location: Wheat Ridge Police Department Lobby, 7500 W. 29th Ave.

Looking for another way to help? Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit https://www.wheatridge.gov/1595/Homeless-Navigation to learn more about supporting the Homeless Navigation Program.

Thank you for helping make a difference in our community.

Heads up Wheat Ridge!

Our Records Department will be closed from noon to 3 p.m. today for team training. But just because they’re closed, doesn’t mean you can’t file a report.

Did you know you can file a police report with us online? While we can’t take reports for persons crimes like assault and robbery, we can take reports for fender benders, vandalism, criminal tampering, graffiti, theft, lost property and other property crimes on our website here: https://tinyurl.com/yw27hhv2

Our partnership with the United States Marshals Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) continues to make our community safer in Wheat Ridge.

This suspect was wanted by Colorado Department of Corrections for parole violations & Adams County Sheriff's Office, Colorado for felony larceny. He was arrested by COVOTF Deputy U.S. Marshals & Task Force Officers from Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Lakewood Police Department and our WRPD Crime Prevention Team near W 44th Ave. & Tabor St. in Wheat Ridge last week.

The suspect tried to run from task force members but was unsuccessful and apprehended before he could get on a sport bike. A search warrant uncovered multiple fi****ms, one of which was stolen. Additional felony charges are pending.

We create safer communities when we work together 👏👏

Honorary WRPD K-9 Layla has a message: Sign up for Dog Walker Watch! 🐶

If you live in Wheat Ridge and love walking your pup, join us on Wednesday, July 15, from 6–7 p.m. at the Wheat Ridge Police Department for this free community safety class.

Dog Walker Watch teaches residents how to recognize and report suspicious activity, helping keep our neighborhoods safe while you're already out enjoying a walk with your four-legged friend. You'll learn what to watch for, what information is helpful to police, and when it's appropriate to make a report.

This valuable program, developed by our Crime Prevention Team, empowers community members to become extra eyes and ears in the neighborhood.

While dogs can't attend the class, we'll have snacks, swag, and bandanas available. Layla loves showing hers off, and we're pretty sure your pup will too! 🤩

Sign up today and help make Wheat Ridge an even safer place to walk, wag, and explore.

To sign up and register for this course, click here: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/FormCenter/Police-Department-17/Dog-Walker-Watch-Training-Class-Registra-56

Look forward to connecting with you all this morning at the Wheat Ridge Rec Center 👋

Mark your calendars 📅

Join us on Wednesday, May 27, from 9 – 11 a.m. for another event. We will be in the lobby of the Wheat Ridge Rec Center with coffee from Queen City Collective Coffee and goodies from Heidi's Brooklyn Deli Wheat Ridge.

Get to know our department by having coffee and conversations while supporting two great local Wheat Ridge Businesses.

We want to update our community on the deadly truck crash on I-70 over the weekend.

WRPD was dispatched to eastbound I-70 just west of Kipling St. around 2:40 a.m. on Saturday, May 23, for reports of multiple vehicles crashing into a large box truck.

Our initial investigation indicates the driver of a large box truck fell asleep driving eastbound in this area, veering off the shoulder before flipping the vehicle. The large box truck came to rest on its side, perpendicular to the highway, with the black undercarriage facing west.

As traffic continued traveling east, four cars collided with the dark undercarriage. An 18-year-old man was killed in the impact. Another driver was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the large box truck and their passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries and have since been treated and released.

The large box truck was below the weight that would have required the driver to have a Commercial Driver’s License. We have issued the driver a summons for careless driving resulting in death, and two counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury.

This remains an active investigation. More evidence may come to light that could warrant additional charges.

Our department is focused on supporting the family of the teenager who lost their life, and those impacted by this crash. We have them in touch with our partners at Victim Outreach Incorporated.

UPDATE: The highway is back open. We appreciate everyone’s patience. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

TRAFFIC ALERT: WRPD is investigating a fatal rollover semi crash on I-70 eastbound between Ward Rd. and Kipling St. that occurred around 2:40 a.m. In addition to the semi, four other vehicles are involved.

Three people have been hospitalized with serious bodily injuries that are not expected to be life threatening at this time.

EB traffic is being diverted to Ward Rd. and the highway will be shut down for the foreseeable future as we investigate. Please find an alternate route as our Crash and Traffic Team Investigates. Thank you for your patience.