Police Chief Terry Krelle with the remains of a handgun found during construction on Main St.
By Linda Jones
Terry Krelle came to Central City as chief of police two weeks before legalized gaming opened on Oct. 1, 1991. He relished the challenge of gambling coming to the town and the “unique challenge” of organizing a growing, progressive department from the ground floor up. He continues to enjoy that challenge every day and stays put.
“I could’ve left several times but I like the historical aspect of this town. I’m fond of Central City – it’s a crazy town with a crazy cast of characters,” Krelle said.
After 20 years he knows his town well.
“I absolutely prefer small town policing because you get to know people on a first name basis. People are usually more cooperative when you know them. That’s the fun side. The gaming side gives you some unique calls; gaming brings a weird dynamic to the table – a senior citizen may be your suspect,” he said.
The Division of Gaming officers stationed in Central City handle most gaming crimes. Krelle says the Central City Police Department only gets involved if an underage gambler is involved or with patron-on-patron “stuff,” which is usually a purse or cell phone left behind when a gambler moves on to a new game. Chief Krelle said, “We’re spoiled out here.”
These acts of carelessness and theft are all videotaped and the thief is detained by the security department of the casino involved until the police arrive to book the suspect. When questioned about what offenses create the most calls, Krelle answers, “domestic violence, half of it local, half imported.”
An apt description of this police chief would be laid-back, easy-going. He began policing in Nebraska on a part-time basis; his first full-time assignment in Colorado was in Lafayette. The department he now heads consists of five officers, including Chief Krelle.
Krelle lives in Conifer with his wife of 27 years. Their three children have flown the coop; one is a Jefferson County deputy, one is a corrections officer at the Women’s Corrections facility in Denver and one daughter works outside of law enforcement. Krelle was active in the Westernaires organization when his children were younger and he continues to volunteer to man the first aid station for their shows and as a wrangler. He and his family camp and ride their ATVs all over the state.
Krelle is active in the Eureka Treasure Hunters Club and thrives on the excitement of finding bits of history buried for decades. The city’s Main Street has been thoroughly dug up and dug down for several months in order to repair and replace water and sewer pipes and create a pleasing streetscape. During this upheaval, members of the Eureka Treasure Hunters Club have been asked to search with their metal detectors to find and identify the buried history under Main Street. Krelle has found “bullets, tokens, horseshoes and tons of square nails.” The most exciting find is a handgun, but its provenance cannot be traced until it’s thoroughly cleaned.
