the greats

I am just going to press submit on this post referencing an article mentioning cold cases like JonBenet's and the contributions of incredible-invaluable investigators like Lou Smit - -

Lured by cold cases, retired detectives go back on the beat
Published in The Denver Post
By Kirk Mitchell

Homicide Detective Alex Jameson retired from the Lakewood Police Department and went on a long-awaited cruise to Bermuda with his wife.

A few years passed. A honey-do list was completed. Then in 2008, current Division Chief Dan McCasky was on the phone. Lakewood police were opening a cold-case unit and McCasky wondered if Jameson had any interest in joining.

Jameson is one of a growing number of retired homicide detectives and law enforcement officers from around Colorado who have returned to their old offices — or new ones — to volunteer or work part or full time to try to solve decades-old cases around the state.

In some instances, detectives had specific cases in mind that haunted them and compelled In some instances, detectives had specific cases in mind that haunted them and compelled them to come back. In others, detectives just missed the hunt and hated sitting around. Strapped budgets and cutbacks in police agencies have helped make part-time officers an attractive option.

The detectives include Lou Smit, the legendary Colorado Springs homicide detective, who came back and consulted on the JonBenet Ramsey case and other homicides from around the state and the nation...[read more]