Arvada Announces New Police Chief

ARVADA, CO – Arvada Deputy Police Chief Link Strate was named police chief for the City of Arvada Monday night at a meeting of the city council.

City Manager Mark Deven announced Strate's appointment. Strate, who has spent his entire 30-year career with the Arvada Police Department, has served as a Deputy Chief of Police since 2016.

The contest was down to Strate and Interim Chief Ed Brady, who's served since the December retirement of 10-year Chief Don Wick.

“Between Link and Ed, it was impossible to make a bad choice,” Deven said in a press release. “We are blessed to have amazing leadership in the Arvada Police Department. Both finalists expressed their unwavering support for the other during the process.”

The department searched nationally, but finally decided on two candidates close to home. Interviews were held last week, with candidates answering questions from two panels, one made up of department personnel and one composed of citizens.

In his 30 years on the Arvada force, Strate has served in patrol, investigations, and traffic, the city said. As a Commander he oversaw the Community Response Impact Team and the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and as Deputy Chief managed the multi-year transition from Arvada's dispatch center to the new consolidated regional 911 center, Jeffcom.

Strate has Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Organization Leadership from Regis University. He has trained with the FBI National Academy, the School of Police Staff and Command through Northwestern University, and the Senior Management Institute for Police with Boston University. He is also trained and certified by the Patterson Center as a strategic planning facilitator. He has served on the Family Justice Center Executive Committee and the Boards of the Jefferson County Regional Lab, Jeffcom, and Ralston House, the city said in a statement.

Image via City of Arvada