About Us

Armando Saldate III was nominated as the Executive Director of Public Safety by Mayor Hancock in January 2022 and confirmed by Denver City Council in February 2022. Director Saldate oversees the Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, Denver Sheriff Department, Denver 9-1-1, and Community Corrections. 

Director Saldate is a career law enforcement professional, having started his career in public safety as the top police recruit with the Phoenix Police Department in 1993. While with Phoenix PD, Saldate focused on gang violence reduction and was deputized as a Special Agent and US Marshal with the FBI’s Phoenix Division. While in that position, he was a member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and completed assignments with the Counter Terrorism Information Center, Organized Crime Bureau Intelligence Unit, FBI Violent Gang Task Force, Dignitary Protection Unit, and others. Saldate has been recognized by three former directors of the FBI, the United States Secret Service Phoenix Division, US Capitol Police, Central Intelligence Agency, Phoenix Police Department, Denver Sheriff Department, and many others throughout his career. He retired from Phoenix PD in 2014 with honors after more than 20 years of service.

After relocating to Colorado, Saldate joined the Denver Sheriff Department as a senior investigator, and later served as a supervisor in DSD’s Data Science Unit and as the Civilian Commander in the Internal Affairs Bureau. He then accepted a position in the Department of Safety as a Performance Improvement Manager. Most recently, Saldate was an Assistant Deputy Director in DOS leading efforts around the Pepsi Center COVID-19 Testing Site and overseeing the creation and implementation of the Early Intervention Team and Street Enforcement Team.

In his free time, Director Saldate enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, volunteering with school and faith-based organizations, and spending time in the Denver community.

Jeff Holliday MBA, MSW, LCSW comes to the Department of Safety with a wealth of experience, including 12 years in the United States Army. He is a combat veteran – having served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Saudi Arabia and Iraq and earned multiple awards for leadership and valor during his military career.

Mr. Holliday is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and graduated from the University of Denver with a Master’s degree in Social Work and the University of Colorado with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Over the past 21 years, Mr. Holliday has served in various executive leadership roles in private, municipal, and federal service, including as the Deputy Executive Director of Human Services in Broomfield and Denver, Deputy Executive Director of Provider Relations & Services for the U.S. Veterans Health Administration, and the Chief Operating Officer for Jefferson Hills Adolescent Behavioral Health Inpatient Care. Within the Department of Public Safety, Mr. Holliday is the second in command to the Executive Director, overseeing a broad group of programs and staff.

Chanee Cummings is the Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Public Safety, overseeing the financial, budgetary, and contract operations for all safety agencies. 

Ms. Cummings is a native of Denver and has been with the Department of Public Safety for over 20 years. She started her career as a Staff Accountant with the Denver Fire Department and most recently served as the Finance Director for the department. She continues to be an integral part to the improvement and centralization of the department's financial operations, and now manages a financial portfolio of over $760 million aligned with department and mayoral priorities.

Ms. Cummings has a bachelor's degree in accounting, a master's degree in business administration, and is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).