2020 BLACK HISTORY HONOREE RETIRED DENVER POLICE DIVISION CHIEF DR. TRACIE KEESEE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Michael Hesse
President
Denver Police Museum
303-495-9718
DENVER POLICE MUSEUM, BLAIR-CALDWELL LIBRARY, AND DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNNOUNCE 2020 BLACK HISTORY HONOREE RETIRED DENVER POLICE DIVISION CHIEF DR. TRACIE KEESEE
DENVER, CO (February 20, 2020)—Today, the Denver Police Museum, Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, and the Denver Police Department will host a reception from 3:30pm to 5:45pm at the Blair-Caldwell Library, located at 2401 Welton Street, honoring retired Denver Police Division Chief Tracie Keesee. Mayor Michael Hancock and Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen are expected to speak and make presentations at the reception.
Dr. Keesee is a Denver native, and graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. Dr. Keesee began her career as a Denver Police Officer in October 1989. She started as a patrol officer and served in a variety of capacities on the department including Public Information Officer, Internal Affairs and was promoted to Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Division Chief. In 2015, Dr. Keesee retired from the Denver Police Department. She was appointed the Director of the National Initiative for Building Community Trust in the Obama Administration. Later, she was appointed by New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton as Deputy Commissioner of Training for the 50,000 members of the NYC Police Department and Commissioner James O’Neil later appointed Dr. Keesee as the first ever Deputy Commissioner of Equality and Inclusion.
In 2010, Dr. Keesee co-founded the Center for Policing Equity, a research think-tank that focuses on obtaining justice through science and today is the leading center of excellence for the study of bias in policing. In 2011, Tracie became heavily involved in opportunities for upcoming generations and served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado teaching Post Graduate Courses on Race, Crime and Justice. Dr. Keesee holds a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Colorado at Denver, a Ph.D. in Intercultural Communications from the University of Denver, and a Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. She is also a graduate of the 203rd Session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia.
Throughout her career, Dr. Keesee facilitated and mentored numerous officers through promotion exams and assessment centers, setting a path for current and future Denver Police Department leaders. She currently is assisting various departments across the country to enhance their relationships with the communities they serve.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Denver Police Museum, Denver Police Department, the Denver Police Black Officers Association, and the Blair-Caldwell Library have partnered to recognize the hundreds of black officers who have served the City and County of Denver since 1890. A special display honoring Dr. Keesee’s service will be available at the Blair-Caldwell Library through February 28, 2020.
About the Denver Police Museum
The Denver Police Museum is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to promoting social impact. Through its focus on youth crime prevention education, historic preservation, and community outreach, the Denver Police Museum builds bridges between citizens and the law enforcement of Denver and creates opportunities for community understanding and engagement. More information at denverpolicemuseum.org.
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