Thornton Chooses Jim Baird as new Police Chief
THORNTON, CO… The city of Thornton is pleased to introduce our new Police Chief, Jim Baird. He will join our organization on May 27. Chief Baird has had a long, successful law enforcement career, including serving as Chief of Police in both Ann Arbor, MI and Breckenridge, CO.
Thornton was fortunate to have 35 strong applicants representing talent and expertise throughout Colorado and the nation. The community and employees contributed to the recruitment and selection process in meaningful ways including community and employee surveys, representative interview panels, and a meet and greet forum.
City Manager Tansy Hayward reflected, “The engagement of our employees and community through this process provided valuable insight about our shared priorities and values. I would like to thank everyone that took the time to be involved and provide their perspectives.”
Before serving as the Police Chief in Breckenridge, Baird was the Chief of Police for Ann Arbor, Michigan from 2016 to 2018, where he started his law enforcement career and worked his way up the ranks directly after graduating out of the police academy in 1993. Baird has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University. Baird has also been active in the police chief community in Colorado since arriving in the state and is serving as the 2024-2025 president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police.
"I'm grateful to the city of Thornton for this incredible opportunity to join the dedicated team of law enforcement officers and professional staff already serving this exceptional community," says Baird.
As Thornton Chief of Police, Baird will lead a department with 258 authorized sworn police officers, and 88 non-sworn staff. The Thornton Police Department strongly emphasizes community involvement and Baird brings a wealth of experience in this area.
“I appreciate the ongoing professional and exceptional service by our officers through this transition period and the leadership of interim Police Chief Greg Reeves,” says Thornton City Manager Tansy Hayward. “Through our rigorous process, Chief Baird demonstrated his commitment and skill to operational excellence, support and development of our valued members of the police department, to our community, and to being a team member and problem solver working in the interest of the future of Thornton. I am thrilled that he is joining our team!”
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