Coroner: Palmer Lake police chief committed suicide

I knew Dan, Palmer Lake Police Chief, and I find it so hard to believe that he took his own life. He was a good man, friend, teacher and officer. He will be missed. I will miss his friendship and smiling face.

I also knew Mr. Gilliana. He was my professor at Colorado Tech University. He was a great man and teacher, one of my faves. I cant believe he'd take his life. I know that many would miss him dearly.

This is so not like Dan ... I just can not let this sink into my head. Its so unbelieveable. my blessings go out to the family.

I live one street over from him and heard the shot. He must've been outside because it was quite loud. We had the window open in our bedroom about three inches and immediately after the shot we heard a woman wailing. We called 911 and were told that help was on its way. A few minutes later police cars and a fire truck rolled into the neighborhood.

I didn't sleep well that night.

Dan Gilliana was a great man. I learned so much from him while getting my undergrad degree. He was a kind hearted man and had a great sense of humor. His loss is a great shock and he will truly be missed. May he rest in peace.

on the comment from "Brett Tenazio" - show some respect! Your comment was truly uncalled for. Regardless if you heard something or not - don't write it on a comment page talking about the mans death. Who cares if you didn't sleep well - a man died. Think before you post next time.

“Dan the man” (as I called him) was not only a great Educator, he was also a mentor to many as well as a true friend. A brilliant and beautiful human being, who really cared about educating people and challenging them to push the limits of validity as well as change. He had a wonderful sense of humor that leveled the playing field of long/late evening classes. This is a great loss to everyone who new and loved him for the individual that he was. My heart felt prayers go out to his family for their loss.

A Poem For Dan and Family, I had the pleasure of being one of Dans first students at Colorado Tech, I can say my heart is heavy as my mind is also with his passing. He will always remain in my thoughts and heart, as i go forth and make him proud. He was a great man and mentor to me and i hear his voice saying you can do this girl. He was a very down to earth loving man and cared for all he came in contact with. Dan I am almost there like you said i could do it getting my Masters in Criminal Justice. I am proud to have had your guidance in life. Thank you from my heart to yours. Blessings to Janet and family. You two were a very great couple and teachers I Thank you.

Mary Frye that resonate from the Big Sky

Don’t stand by my grave and weep,
For I am not there.
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond’s glint in the snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
In the soft blush of the morning light
I am the swift bird in flight.
Don’t stand by my grave and cry,
I am not there,
I did not die.

This underscores the serious problem suicide is in our culture. Many have died through suicide. There are support groups out there for families and friends. Heartbeat is one of these groups - in the Springs - meets first Tuesday of the month. Those who suffer the death of someone through suicide need support. It is a very heavy burden to carry alone. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Dan was an interesting person! I had worked with him in law enforcement and knew him personally. He had a personable side to him and could back stab someone at the "drop of a hat!" He was a very conflicted individual and I am sincerely sorry that his wife and family have to suffer as a result of his unresolved issues. I wish them courage and healing in the months and years to come.

I wonder how Nikki Tezak made Sgt., let alone interim chief of police. She is the most unstable and indecisive officer I have EVER known. May God help those poor people of Palmer Lake!!

Brian Decarlo Jr wrote:

I wonder how Nikki Tezak made Sgt., let alone interim chief of police. She is the most unstable and indecisive officer I have EVER known. May God help those poor people of Palmer Lake!!

Well Mike Brennan had you not lost your job because you incompetent you would have see what Dan and so many of us other Law Enforcement professionals see. She works hard, loves what she does and did not take kind to you trying to get her fired because she knew more than you. Anyone who talks to her knows she knows she won't take crap from anyone, she sticks up for what is right and if you don;t like be a man tell her, not write your distorted views of her in a tribute to Dan she did great for Palmer Lake and gracefully gave it the man that earned, unlike you. you are sick.

You go girl, you did great for what you had to deal with. Just because some wanna be cop don't like your touch attitude towards defending woman does not make.... what was the word. oh ya unstable and indecisive, I could just laugh that little boys have nothing better to write to good man who killed himself. Wow, you even out shine the dead when it's not your place or their place to talk abut you I was sure this was about Dan Gilliana.

Who are you to pass judgment on someone that she clearly don't know, if she does know I am sure you hate her because she does job and does it well. A real man would step up but his name to it or take it to her directly but I can see why you don't get along with her, you are man enough to confront a touch female and she must have hurt someone's little feelings, you pathetic jurk. Chief Gilliana is the one we are remembering, not some lame ass that could not get a chick.

Kimber B wrote:

Dan Gilliana was a great man. I learned so much from him while getting my undergrad degree. He was a kind hearted man and had a great sense of humor. His loss is a great shock and he will truly be missed. May he rest in peace.
on the comment from "Brett Tenazio" - show some respect! Your comment was truly uncalled for. Regardless if you heard something or not - don't write it on a comment page talking about the mans death. Who cares if you didn't sleep well - a man died. Think before you post next time.

Kimber, I don't know "Brett Tenazio" and I wasn't offended by his comment that he "didn't sleep well that night." In fact, I think that comment showed compassion and concern for the person who was shot. If I heard a gunshot in my neighborhood followed by police and ambulance sirens, I would not be able to sleep either -- not for selfish reasons -- but out of concern and worry for another human being. I think you misunderstood Brett's feelings.

FAN OF NIKKI wrote:

<quoted text>
Well Mike Brennan had you not lost your job because you incompetent you would have see what Dan and so many of us other Law Enforcement professionals see. She works hard, loves what she does and did not take kind to you trying to get her fired because she knew more than you. Anyone who talks to her knows she knows she won't take crap from anyone, she sticks up for what is right and if you don;t like be a man tell her, not write your distorted views of her in a tribute to Dan she did great for Palmer Lake and gracefully gave it the man that earned, unlike you. you are sick.

I am a fan of Palmer Lake and Brian said it well..It is time now for all of us who have suffered at her wreckless behavior.we are all celebrating our chance to show everyone what Palmer Lake has had to suffer with as well...Yes God has had mercy of all of us in Palmer Lake. Our Day of liberation is finally coming and we will have our wonderful loving town back..

Brian Decarlo Jr wrote:

I wonder how Nikki Tezak made Sgt., let alone interim chief of police. She is the most unstable and indecisive officer I have EVER known. May God help those poor people of Palmer Lake!!

Thank You Thank You for being the kind of person that will tell the truth no matter what. We in palmer lake were here when she came and we will be here to see her go. There are numerous incedences that have surfaced concerning her and these things also will be known one day. Yes God has had mercy on the poor people of Palmer Lake

FAN OF NIKKI wrote:

<quoted text>
Well Mike Brennan had you not lost your job because you incompetent you would have see what Dan and so many of us other Law Enforcement professionals see. She works hard, loves what she does and did not take kind to you trying to get her fired because she knew more than you. Anyone who talks to her knows she knows she won't take crap from anyone, she sticks up for what is right and if you don;t like be a man tell her, not write your distorted views of her in a tribute to Dan she did great for Palmer Lake and gracefully gave it the man that earned, unlike you. you are sick.

another mean comment by obviously a sick person as well..the hateful way that you talk is proof of what people that have had to live in palmer lake have witnessed first hand..these remarks are anything but profesSional..like her

FAN OF NIKKI wrote:

<quoted text>
Well Mike Brennan had you not lost your job because you incompetent you would have see what Dan and so many of us other Law Enforcement professionals see. She works hard, loves what she does and did not take kind to you trying to get her fired because she knew more than you. Anyone who talks to her knows she knows she won't take crap from anyone, she sticks up for what is right and if you don;t like be a man tell her, not write your distorted views of her in a tribute to Dan she did great for Palmer Lake and gracefully gave it the man that earned, unlike you. you are sick.

It is amazing to me that this blog has one response by a Palmer Lake resident. We here in Palmer Lake Liked Mike Brennen and we all lament over the loss of Dale Smith and John Cameron as well. We had honorable and law abiding police officers here for a hundred years and no one had a problem with anything they did because they were interested in us as people and friends and were a part of our community. We had a lovely town and people loved each other. Since they left we have been also left with a force who has been trained by scandalous officers,and the creed To Serve and Protect went out the window with upstanding offices like Mike Brennen.

I really miss my dad. Not sure as to what is going on in Palmer Lake or why people cant try to get along.. after reading all of what people have said about my dad and how he worked and touched so many in different ways. It is sad to say that you all seamed to know him more then his whole family did. The only time I got to see him was on his lunch breaks when was not trying to help all in Palmer Lake or his students. He really did give his whole life to you all...

Neal Gilliana wrote:

I really miss my dad. Not sure as to what is going on in Palmer Lake or why people cant try to get along.. after reading all of what people have said about my dad and how he worked and touched so many in different ways. It is sad to say that you all seamed to know him more then his whole family did. The only time I got to see him was on his lunch breaks when was not trying to help all in Palmer Lake or his students. He really did give his whole life to you all...

I am sorry that most of us here in Palmer Lake did not have a chance to know your dad better. I am sure he was a good Chief.Our problem has been with Nikki Tezak and the officers that followed in her abuse of power.This abuse tho has come to an end. It will be news to the whole state very soon as to what I am talking about. The time has come for these unprofessional "officers" to account for their behavior.We in Palmer Lake can get along very well and have before we were infiltrated by the "mafia" as it was told to me by my attorney and the District Attorney..Stay tuned..it will be very interesting and long awaited..