Two officers promoted in FMPD

A pair of Fort Morgan police officers have been promoted into positions which Police Chief Loren Sharp says will allow them to further their leadership within the department.

Anthony Chaparro was promoted to corporal and Caleb Creech to sergeant during a ceremony Monday. Their promotions were effective about a month ago.

“We are not making them supervisors, as some may say; we are recognizing them and giving them authority to be formal leaders,” Sharp said during the ceremony recognizing their promotions. “While they have both been leaders in many ways, they are now being granted more authority to help lead this organization into the future and help develop each and every person that they have the opportunity to lead.”

Chaparro joined the police department in December 2017.

“It was apparent from the beginning that Anthony was going to be a special member of the FMPD,” Sharp said. “His ability to communicate with everyone and to connect with all people in the department and the community is noteworthy.”

Sharp recalled a phone call he received from Chaparro while in the police academy, which he says displays the determination and positive attitude the officer possesses. He had fallen, injured his knee and surgery was going to be needed.

“Through all of this, he was determined to continue with the academy and did what it took to work his way through injury and to come out of the academy on time, ready to start field training,” Sharp said.

Chaparro’s wife, Jackie, participated in the badge-pinning ceremony.

Creech joined the police department in December 2019, and Sharp recalled participating in the FBI National Academy at about the same time as Creech was in the police academy.

“I wasn’t part of the hiring process at the time Caleb was hired. I didn’t know a lot about Caleb, as a result, until I came back a few months later,” Sharp said.

He relayed a story of a time when an administrative decision had been implemented and instead of complaining about the decision, Sharp recalled the officer visited with him about it.

“Caleb understood that decisions are not made in a vacuum and there was likely information that administration had that he was not aware of,” Sharp said. “In fact, once he found out what we took into consideration before making a decision, he understood better than probably anybody in the department.”

He termed it big-picture thinking not often seen in officers with his experience.

“That coupled with his excellent understanding of his weaknesses and his plans and ideas to help improve upon the weakness and peel another layer off, makes him an excellent candidate for sergeant,” Sharp said.

Creech’s wife, Makenzie, participated in the badge-pinning ceremony.

“You have both been given an opportunity to impact the careers of those that you work with. This is not to be taken lightly. I hope that each of you seriously consider all of the ways that you can help serve those that you lead in a way that will improve their abilities, strengthen their weaknesses, and make them better,” Sharp said during the ceremony. “It is a chance for you to build a legacy in this department and influence others to follow in your footsteps and flourish with this organization. There is an entire team of employees in this department that are rooting for your success and depend on you to help lead this organization.”