Basalt Police Chief Greg Knott retires

The town of Basalt announced on Monday that Basalt Police Chief Greg Knott has retired after 13 years serving the area. 

“Chief Knott served the town of Basalt with dedication and integrity, guiding the department through periods of growth and change while strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the community,” said Basalt Mayor David Knight in the press release announcing Knott’s retirement. “Under his leadership, the department expanded community policing efforts, enhanced officer training standards and prioritized collaboration with regional partners to ensure public safety across the Roaring Fork Valley. We are grateful for his service and his legacy.”

Knott was sworn in to the Basalt Police chief position 13 years ago, first as an interim chief in January 2013 and then fully sworn into the position in May 2013. Prior to his service in Basalt, he served in the Carbondale Police Department for 20 years. 

Just two years after ascending to Basalt chief, he was given an “executive certification” from the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police in recognition of his “professionalism, executive growth and leadership experience.” Of the 160 chiefs working in the state of Colorado at the time, only around 20 to 25 had received that distinction. 

On top of his policing responsibilities, Knott studied for, and in 2014 received, his Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, Denver. 

According to his Linkedin, he was also the president for the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police from 2021 until his retirement this year. 

“My years as the police chief taught me that trust in the police department is earned through open, honest communication and transparency,” Knott said in the release. “The police department and the community must act and function as a team. I am most proud of the police officers and staff who work the department … Every one of them is a wonderful human being who cares deeply about the wellbeing of others.” 

According to the retirement announcement, he focused on transparency and professionalism during his tenure at the police department. He modified department policies and improved the Community Academy, which saw more than 175 community participants in the past seven years. 

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During his time as chief, he also channeled his energy into mental health support for his officers and the community. His priority when making decisions was focused on public service and accountability, which led to training Basalt Police Department officers in Narcan overdose procedures in the case of overdose emergencies. 

The town has not yet announced plans for his replacement. According to the release, leadership transition details will be available in the coming weeks.