Retired Lakewood Police Chief Ron Burns Dies At 71

LAKEWOOD, CO — Retired Lakewood Police Department Chief Ron Burns has died after a battle with cancer, the department announced Saturday. He was 71 years old.

Burns' law enforcement career spanned 35 years. He worked as a police chief in Kirkland, Washington, and Tempe, Arizona, before he served as the executive director for the Arizona 100 Club, a nonprofit organization that supports the families of officers who are seriously wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Burns then moved to Colorado in 2001 to lead the Lakewood Police Department for 6 years.

"Chief Burns reinforced the high standards of the Lakewood Police Department’s mission 'to serve and protect with integrity, intelligence and initiative,' always leading by example," the department said in a statement.

"His forward thinking and willingness to listen to the community quickly earned Chief Burns the loyalty, respect and admiration of those who worked with him."

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Burns’ legacy "will include an uncompromising pledge to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, outstanding leadership, and an unfailing loyalty and commitment to serving the citizens of Lakewood," the department's statement read.

"He will be remembered as a charismatic and humble man, who left every organization he was part of better than he found it.

"Our hearts are with Chief Burns’ family at this unimaginable time.

"Thank you for your service Chief. We have the watch from here."