Jared Jensen was a professional theater actor in Chicago before he followed his brother to become a police officer in Colorado Springs.
“He was just an outgoing guy who everybody loved,” said Chuck Burns, a neighbor of Jensen’s parents, Deborah and Cliff Hudson, who live in Colorado Springs.
Jensen, 30, was shot to death Wednesday morning as he attempted to arrest Jereme Lamberth, who was wanted in an attempted homicide case, said Lt. Rafael Cintron, Colorado Springs police spokesman. Detective Jensen was taken to Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 12:10 p.m., Cintron said.
Jensen, the brother of Sgt. Steve Jensen of the Colorado Springs Police Department, was hired by the police department in July 2002.
“He was a great officer,” Colorado Springs officer John Hill said. “He was young, enthusiastic and loved the job.”
Jensen was assigned to the vice-narcotics unit in January 2005, Cintron said. He beat out several other officers, said Sgt. Otto Knollhoff, president of the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association.
“That in itself is a statement of who he was and his ability,” Knollhoff said. “He was an outstanding cop. He was highly intelligent, calm and very efficient. We’re going to miss him.”
He was married to Natalie Jensen.
“She is experiencing such a great loss,” Burns said.
Several police officers came to the Hudson home Wednesday to give their support to the family, he said.
“Their house is full of police officers,” Burns said.
Rochelle Terrell, executive director of the Colorado Springs Police Protective Association, said police officers have been calling all day asking what they can do to help.
“When it hits this close to home, of course, they’re very upset,” Terrell said. “It’s terrible.”
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
