Hugh Harper was well known as Chief of Police, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for 23 years (1917-1940) and made national news for his bulldog-like tenacity in pursuing outlaws.

Hugh D. Harper served as chief of the Colorado Springs Police Department from 1917 to 1941. According to his obituary published in the Colorado Springs Gazette newspaper on 12 December 1944, Harper was famed as a law enforcement official throughout the United States and was elected president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1931. He was born 2 October 1876 near Duncansville, Illinois. He came to Colorado Springs in 1898 and was first employed by the Colorado Midland Railroad and later worked for the Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway Co. He left the railway company in May, 1903 and took his first police job with the Colorado Springs Police Department. He was fired from the department in November and moved to Seattle, Washington, and remained there until 1905, when he returned to Colorado Springs. He then rejoined the police and remained a patrolman until 1908, when he left the department to take up a homestead in Lincoln County. In April 1913, he was back on the department to serve continuously until his retirement in 1941. Harper was promoted to captain in 1915 and was made chief in November of 1917. His obituary outlined numerous successes in suppressing gangs and robbers in Colorado. In recognition of his excellent records as a law enforcement officer, Harper was recommended for the appointment of United States marshal for Colorado, but declined the honor as he preferred to remain in Colorado Springs.
Thanks to contributor: J Richards (49481774) for the above paragraph • [email protected]

He was an excellent police chief with a kind side. At Thanksgiving and at Christmas time, he would bring some prisoners home with him to share in his family's holiday feast.

He was a loving husband and father.