A decorated police officer in southern Colorado lost his life over the weekend in a sudden boating accident. Corporal Stephen Biggs, a 41-year-old veteran of the Pueblo Police Department, died Sunday evening while wakeboarding at Lake Pueblo State Park. The off-duty officer went missing in the water during what was supposed to be a simple weekend outing.
Biggs spent more than a decade serving his community on the front lines. He joined the Pueblo Police Department back in October 2010 and built a solid record over his 14 years on the force. During his career, he worked as a Patrol Training Officer, guiding new officers through their first shifts on the street. He also earned a spot on the department’s SWAT team, taking on high-risk assignments across the city.
His work did not go unnoticed inside the department. Biggs received ten letters of commendation for his actions in the line of duty. He was also awarded three Medals of Valor and the Distinguished Service Award. These honors reflected a career built on courage and steady work in tough situations.
Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller spoke about the impact of the loss on Monday. He described Biggs’ death as a deeply personal blow to the entire department. Noeller praised Biggs for his bravery and his constant commitment to the officers who stood beside him every single day.
The incident began around 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Peck Creek area of the park. Biggs was out on the lake when something went wrong during the wakeboarding trip. Calls for help immediately brought emergency crews to the western portion of the reservoir, starting a search that lasted long into the night.
Rescuers located Biggs early Monday morning in nearly 50 feet of water. To honor his memory, police parked his patrol car outside department headquarters at 200 South Main Street in Pueblo. Members of the community can stop by the vehicle to leave flowers, pay their respects, and support the grieving department.
Lake Pueblo State Park sits just west of Pueblo and about 45 miles south of Colorado Springs. State park officials and local law enforcement continue to look into what caused the fatal accident. For now, the city mourns a fallen officer who dedicated his adult life to protecting others.
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