Wheat Ridge’s first acting police chief, Jack W. Bramble, passed away June 22. He was 89.
Bramble was one of the original members of the City Council in Wheat Ridge from 1969 to 1973.
He served as police chief from November 1969 to June 1970 with no pay while a full-time chief was hired. At the time, Bramble was also working full time at Coors and patrolling at night in Wheat Ridge’s first police car, a 1969 Ford Galaxie.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Bramble came to Colorado as a child. He joined the Army and served in World War II as part of the 106th infantry. Bramble began working with law enforcement when Jefferson County Sheriff Harold Bray asked him to teach motorcycle techniques to deputies. Bramble also taught motorcycle traffic units of the Colorado State Patrol.
Bramble’s badge, No. 1, will be displayed later this year, with other Wheat Ridge police historical relics, in the City Hall lobby.
