Ritter appoints Chief of Police to gaming commission

COMMERCE CITY – The Commerce City Chief of Police, Philip J. Baca, has been appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter to serve as the law enforcement member on The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission.

“An appointment to the gaming commission is quite an honor and I look forward to working collectively with commission members,” states Chief Baca. “As Commerce City Chief of Police, I not only act as an ambassador for my community but also participate on boards and commissions that make important decisions for all of the metro area and state of Colorado.”

Baca is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and began his law enforcement career in 1974 with the Denver County Sheriff’s Department. He then worked for the Denver Police Department where he was a lieutenant. In 1990, he left law enforcement to practice law. Baca earned his juris doctorate from the University of Denver and practiced law until 1998 when he became the law enforcement academy director of the Colorado Sheriff’s Training Institute. Baca joined the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in 2000 where he served as the division chief of the criminal investigation sector.

In 2008, Baca became Chief of Police for the City of Commerce City Police Department. He leads a police force of 93 sworn-in officers and is committed to developing a community-oriented police department.



The Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission is a five-member regulatory body appointed by the Governor. By statute, the commission is responsible for promulgating all the rules and regulations governing limited gaming in Colorado, including the establishment of the gaming tax rate. The commission also has final authority over all gaming licenses issued in the state.

By law, the commission is made up of members from different professional, political and geographic backgrounds and must include:

·An attorney with experience in regulatory law
·A Certified Public Accountant with knowledge of corporate finance
·A law enforcement official
·A corporate manager with five years of business experience
·A registered voter

No more than three commissioners can be from the same political party and no more than one commissioner can be from the same federal congressional district. All appointments to the commission must be confirmed by the State Senate. Commissioners serve four-year terms, and no commissioner can serve more than two consecutive terms. The commission is required by law to meet at least monthly.