A Forever Buff and former employee join CUPD

During his first year as a student at CU Boulder, Isaac Hagenbuch watched as CU Boulder police (CUPD) officers and a resident services officer rushed to help a close friend experiencing a medical emergency in the residence halls.

The care the officers provided had a lasting impression.

“The way it was handled made me have a lot of respect for CUPD and the officers and responders who were there,” Hagenbuch said.

Years later, that respect for CUPD and the thrill of his first ride-along with the agency have evolved into a career in policing.

Hagenbuch is among CUPD's four newest commissioned officers. Joining him are Dillon Krause, Lane Griggs and Collin Judkins, all graduates of Flat Rock Police Academy's Class 42 who have earned their certifications through Colorado's Peace Officer Standards and Training program.

Campus connections inspire service

Joining CUPD isn’t just a homecoming for Hagenbuch; Judkins also has ties to CU Boulder. Judkins formerly worked for the university’s Emergency Management team, now an entity of CU Boulder’s Division of Public Safety. Emergency Management was a function of CUPD at the time, and his experience with the department both professionally and personally drew him to join CUPD as an officer.

Shortly after joining Emergency Management in 2020, Judkins' youngest son experienced serious medical complications, and members of CUPD didn’t hesitate to rally around their new colleague like one of their own.

“I was immediately treated like one of the family,” Judkins said. “That has stayed with me throughout my time in the department.”

The experience strengthened his ties to individual members of CUPD and his appreciation for the department's culture of service.

“I have a lot of respect for the people in this department and how they handle community interactions,” he said. “The people in CUPD have been a good example of how police work should be done—it's proactive, protective, positive and people-focused.”

That community-first mindset resonates with Hagenbuch, who was encouraged by friends and family who work at the university to pursue a career with CUPD. His partner works in the Center for Leadership, and his best friend works for the Office for Outreach and Community Engagement.

As a former student, Hagenbuch believes understanding the student experience is integral to fostering positive relationships with the campus community.

“I think it's important for officers to understand that new students are going through a hectic period in their lives and are often moving very far away from home,” he said. “That can have unusual effects on many people.”

Hagenbuch's connection to CU Boulder and student life may soon extend beyond the badge: He plans to finish his chemistry degree and apply that knowledge to specialized policing areas such as hazardous materials response and explosive ordnance disposal.

Drawing on his background in public health and emergency management, Judkins has a mentality of preparedness and hopes to bring an inclusive and community-focused approach to his new role as an officer.

“The mindset in public health is very community-focused,” he said. “What helps the community is good for the individual. Additionally, each individual has very different needs and it's important to make sure those needs are recognized and achieved.”

Different paths, shared commitment to CU Boulder

Inspired by his father, who served as a police officer for 30 years, Krause transitioned to policing after working in banking and automotive industries. The business management  graduate from the University of Northern Colorado said the opportunity to return to a university setting drew him to CUPD.

“I wanted to work for CU Boulder because it has a beautiful campus, and I enjoy being part of the college environment,” Krause noted. “I have always wanted to work for a university.”

Now, Krause gets to do just that, carrying on his father’s legacy.

As he begins his career, he hopes to foster a sense of safety and professionalism through his strong communication and problem-solving skills that bode well for a first responder.

Griggs brings robust experience from military service, the federal government and the private security sector. Throughout those roles, he developed a strong foundation of service, professionalism and problem-solving abilities.

The Class 42 graduate credits the academy with helping him continuously grow as a professional and prepare for the demands of public service.

Griggs’ professional background contributes to his preparedness for the role, as does his go-getter spirit. “I enjoyed picking up new skills every week at the academy, giving me the opportunity to outgrow my prior skillset daily,” Griggs said.

While Griggs highlighted continual training and growth as perks of police work, the opportunity to serve the community inspired him to join the university police department.

“Ensuring the safety of students and staff in order to foster a peaceful environment for all inspired me to apply for the position here at CU Boulder,” he noted.

Griggs hopes to build trust through everyday interactions and become someone people can rely on.

Together, these four new officers bring diverse educational, professional and personal experiences to CUPD. As they transition into serving CU Boulder, they will help advance the department's commitment to safety, professionalism and community engagement while building lasting relationships with Buffs, whether they're responding to a call for service or sharing a quick hello.