02-12-2024, 10:51 PM
Feb. 11—Known best for his time as a detective, specifically on the JonBenet Ramsey murder case, Boulder police Cmdr. Thomas Trujillo has retired after 38 years with the department.
Trujillo joined the department in 1986 after working at the Boulder County Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy and a paramedic at A-1 Ambulance in Boulder, according to the Boulder police website.
Throughout his career, his positions included detective sergeant, head of the Major Crimes Unit, supervisor on the Boulder County Investigative Team, crisis negotiator on the SWAT team, detectives training officer supervisor, incident commander for the Boulder County Incident Management team, firearms instructor and commander of Watch 3 Patrol, according to a Boulder police Instagram post.
In the post, Trujillo was commended for his work on the Basemar homicide, the Libman homicide and the case of Jessica Ridgeway. Trujillo led the investigation of the King Soopers mass shooting in March 2021 and assisted in the response to the recent Marshall, Calwood and Lefthand Canyon wildfires.
"He brought compassion to a chaotic investigation and showed up with strong leadership for the younger officers and detectives in the midst of tragedy," the Instagram post said about Trujillo's work during the King Soopers mass shooting, which claimed the lives of 10 people including Boulder police Officer Eric Talley.
Trujillo was also at times at the center of controversy, including a 2022 report that uncovered a detective's failure to properly investigate cases. That included issues with communication, supervision and staffing within the detective unit. Trujillo was placed on a three-day suspension as a result of the investigation and a finding that he and four others violated "compliance with values, rules and general orders" and reassigned to commander of Watch 3 Patrol.
That move roughly coincided with the department welcoming greater involvement by other investigative agencies in the JonBenet Ramsey case — which Trujillo had long-held responsibility for investigating. In October, police denied that the reassignment had any connection with the infamous unsolved December 1996 murder, for for which Trujillo long served as one of two lead detectives.
In the Instagram post, police highlighted Trujillo's honors.
"He has commendations and recognitions from the chief, the FBI and two excellence awards. The FBI noted his work on the World Savings Robbery in the early '90s and he has recognitions for his CSI work on the 19th Street homicide, the 'Backpack Bandit' robberies, and his investigative work on an infant's death in 2002," it stated.
Trujillo turned down the Daily Camera's request for an interview.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Boulder Police Department (@boulderpolice)
Trujillo joined the department in 1986 after working at the Boulder County Sheriff's Office as a reserve deputy and a paramedic at A-1 Ambulance in Boulder, according to the Boulder police website.
Throughout his career, his positions included detective sergeant, head of the Major Crimes Unit, supervisor on the Boulder County Investigative Team, crisis negotiator on the SWAT team, detectives training officer supervisor, incident commander for the Boulder County Incident Management team, firearms instructor and commander of Watch 3 Patrol, according to a Boulder police Instagram post.
In the post, Trujillo was commended for his work on the Basemar homicide, the Libman homicide and the case of Jessica Ridgeway. Trujillo led the investigation of the King Soopers mass shooting in March 2021 and assisted in the response to the recent Marshall, Calwood and Lefthand Canyon wildfires.
"He brought compassion to a chaotic investigation and showed up with strong leadership for the younger officers and detectives in the midst of tragedy," the Instagram post said about Trujillo's work during the King Soopers mass shooting, which claimed the lives of 10 people including Boulder police Officer Eric Talley.
Trujillo was also at times at the center of controversy, including a 2022 report that uncovered a detective's failure to properly investigate cases. That included issues with communication, supervision and staffing within the detective unit. Trujillo was placed on a three-day suspension as a result of the investigation and a finding that he and four others violated "compliance with values, rules and general orders" and reassigned to commander of Watch 3 Patrol.
That move roughly coincided with the department welcoming greater involvement by other investigative agencies in the JonBenet Ramsey case — which Trujillo had long-held responsibility for investigating. In October, police denied that the reassignment had any connection with the infamous unsolved December 1996 murder, for for which Trujillo long served as one of two lead detectives.
In the Instagram post, police highlighted Trujillo's honors.
"He has commendations and recognitions from the chief, the FBI and two excellence awards. The FBI noted his work on the World Savings Robbery in the early '90s and he has recognitions for his CSI work on the 19th Street homicide, the 'Backpack Bandit' robberies, and his investigative work on an infant's death in 2002," it stated.
Trujillo turned down the Daily Camera's request for an interview.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Boulder Police Department (@boulderpolice)