Candidate for IACP Third Vice President: Matthew Packard
Chief Packard was promoted and appointed as the Chief of the Colorado State Patrol in 2017 by then Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. He has been a member of the IACP since 2012, and after his promotion, he became involved in the IACP's State and Provincial Division (S&P). He was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for IACP in 2019. After being elected by his peers within S&P as the General Chair of the division, he began a two-year term on the IACP's Executive Board of Directors in October 2022.
Chief Packard started his career with the Colorado State Patrol in 2000. Throughout his tenure, he served in and led the accident reconstruction team, homeland security section, hazardous materials group, criminal investigations, executive security, communications, the training academy, media relations, and budget. Chief Matthew Packard is the 9th Chief of the Colorado State Patrol.
He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Center of Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command session #357 and the FBI’s National Executive Institute session #43. In 2023, Colonel Packard was appointed as the Vice Chair for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Colorado.
Candidate Statement
Dear IACP Members:
I hope to have your vote in Boston!
A short background: I was appointed Chief of the Colorado State Patrol in 2017. I have been a member of the IACP since 2012, and after my promotion, I became involved in the IACP's State and Provincial Division (S&P). I was appointed to serve on the IACP Board of Directors in 2019. After being elected by my peers within S&P as the General Chair of the division, I began a two-year term on the IACP's Executive Board of Directors in October 2022.
If I have the privilege of being elected as the 3rd Vice President of the IACP, I will be committed to the following initiatives:
Lead. When we share information, ask questions, and learn from one another, we prepare our profession for the future. Let’s harness our lessons over the past four years and share them with our up-and-coming policing leaders.
I want to ensure that those who have led the policing profession over the last four years have an opportunity to pass on their knowledge to the up-and-comers. Without this knowledge transfer, we are bound to repeat yesterday's mistakes and be ill-prepared for tomorrow’s challenges.
Strengthen. If we are going to make positive changes to modernize policing, the voices of experienced police leadership must be heard. The IACP can provide a loud and clear voice that is representative of all police agencies. I will work hard to bolster an increased level of advocacy.
We must have a voice at the national and international levels when policy is being made. With my experience and knowledge, I am confident I can take your concerns and recommendations straight to the policymakers.
Elevate. With my leadership, the IACP can strengthen the connectivity within our profession by leading technological innovation and providing opportunities for relationship building, collaboration, and information sharing. Those tenants make our communities safer.
Criminals don’t care about jurisdictional boundaries and, frankly, exploit them. Let’s connect with each other and our communities to enhance the ability to protect everyone from harm.
To learn more about my campaign, please visit www.packard4IACP.com.
I am extremely grateful for your support of my campaign and your vote in Boston on Monday, October 21st, at the IACP Annual Conference.
Sincerely,
Colonel Matthew C. Packard
Chief, Colorado State Patrol
