Michael J. Phibbs
Chief of Auraria Campus Police Department and Campus Safety

Michael J. Phibbs became Chief of the Auraria Campus Police Department (ACPD) in August 2014. He was appointed following a nation-wide search, which was led by a committee of representatives from all three Auraria Campus higher education institutions. In November 2019, Phibbs was tapped to oversee Emergency Preparedness, Coordination, and Recovery as well as Safety Communication in addition to his role as Chief of the Auraria Campus Police Department.
Phibbs has over 25 years of law enforcement experience. He served as the Chief of Police for Elizabeth, Colorado for over eight years; prior to that, he was with the Summit County Sherriff’s Office for 10 years, last serving as Division Commander/Undersheriff. As Chief of the ACPD, Phibbs’ responsibilities include full oversight of patrol functions, budgeting, records management, technology implementation, public relations, internal investigations, staff development, strategic planning, policy and procedure development, evidence storage and preservations, and community partnerships.
Outreach, professional boards, and civic involvement are important to Phibbs. He is currently serving as a governor’s appointee to the Colorado Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) board, where he also serves on the Grants and Sunrise Review Committees. (POST is responsible for documenting and managing the certification and training of all active peace officers and reserve peace officers working for Colorado law enforcement agencies.) Also, he serves as the Legislative Chair for the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. He has served on numerous committees and professional boards, including current professional membership with the FBI National Academy Associates, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Colorado Association of Institutional Law Enforcement Directors. He is a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary International and belongs to the Castle Rock Rotary Club.
The Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police has granted Phibbs two prestigious awards. In 2018, he earned the Charles K. “Pat” Steele Award in for providing long-term professional and ethical contributions to law enforcement and the people of Colorado as a Police Chief. Also, he was given the Pioneer Policing Award for developing an innovative program to further the professionalism of law enforcement and service to citizens in 2014.
Phibbs earned an Executive Leadership Master of Criminal Justice degree from the University of Colorado Denver, and he received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a concentration on law and society from the University of Colorado Boulder. In addition, he has completed numerous leadership trainings, including the renowned FBI National Academy.
A Message From Chief Phibbs
The ACPD Remains Committed to an Inclusive and Welcoming Campus Environment