About Michelle
Chief of Police | Executive Leader | Public Safety Professional
Retired Chief of Police with 31 years of leadership experience in policing, emergency management, critical incident response, community partnerships, media relations, and executive-level public leadership.
Michelle's leadership philosophy centers on accountability, communication, employee development, operational excellence, and building strong partnerships and teams.
Michelle served as Chief of Police for the City of Black Hawk Police Department from 2020 to 2026, following a distinguished 25+ year career with the Arvada Police Department. Throughout her career, she led diverse public safety operations, including patrol, investigations, SWAT, emergency operations, internal affairs, community policing, and regional task force collaborations.
Michelle is available for:
Leadership Coaching
Career Development Coaching
Public Safety Consulting
Private Sector Safety Consulting
Emergency Management Advising
Law Enforcement Consulting
Mentorship Programs
Promotional Preparation
Internal Conflict and Mediation
Leadership Speaking Engagements
EDUCATION:
Regis University
Master of Science — Criminology & Human Behavior
University of Northern Colorado
Bachelor of Arts — Sociology, Minor in Psychology
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION ATTENDED:
Executive Leadership Training
FBI National Academy — Class 257
Daniels College of Business Public Safety Leadership Program
Leadership in Police Organizations (IACP Instructor)
NTOA SWAT Command & Incident Command School
FEMA Emergency Management for Senior Officials
FEMA Decision Making & Problem Solving
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
Internal Investigations
Trauma Exposure & Employee Wellness
FEMA Public Information Officer Training
Community Policing Partnerships
Recruitment & Retention Strategies
Threat Incident Management
Officer-Involved Shooting Investigations
Training Coordination
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
FBI National Academy Associates
International Association of Chiefs of Police
National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives
MICHELLE IS A PROVEN AND ACCOMPLISHED LEADER