When you think of a high-ranking police lieutenant, you usually picture a person who is the literal anchor of a community. Stability. Trust. The "good guy" in a crisp uniform. For a long time, that’s exactly who people thought Joel Kern was. He wasn't just some beat cop; he was a Lieutenant with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), a man whose voice often represented the agency in the media. He talked to reporters about death investigations and public safety with a level of authority that most people never question.
Then, everything basically hit a wall.
By late 2022, the name Joel Kern wasn't being mentioned in press releases about solved crimes anymore. Instead, it was appearing on the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) decertification lists. He didn't just retire or move to a different precinct. He was stripped of his badge. Honestly, for someone in his position, that is a massive fall from grace that you don't see every day in law enforcement circles.
The Breaking Point at CSPD
The timeline of what happened with Joel Kern Colorado Springs police officer is actually pretty tight when you look at the paperwork. In March 2022, an internal affairs investigation was heating up. Now, internal affairs isn't exactly a fun place for any officer, but for Kern, it was the beginning of the end. By July 9, 2022, he was officially separated from the department.
What was the charge? It wasn't a shooting or a high-speed chase gone wrong. It was "untruthfulness."
In the world of policing, that’s the "death penalty" for a career. If you are caught lying—specifically making untruthful statements about material facts during an administrative or disciplinary process—you become a liability. You can't testify in court because any defense attorney worth their salt will bring up that "untruthful" tag and shred your credibility. The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office eventually issued a credibility disclosure (often called a Brady list entry) on August 11, 2022.
He was essentially un-hirable as a cop from that moment on.
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A "Double Life" and the Betrayal Podcast
If you’ve spent any time on true crime podcasts lately, you might have heard the name Joel Kern pop up in a much more personal context. Season 4 of the popular podcast Betrayal dives deep into the story of his ex-wife, Caroline. It’s a gut-wrenching listen. She describes a "double life" that went way beyond just professional misconduct.
According to the accounts shared in the podcast, the "pivotal moment" happened on April 11, 2022. This was right around the same time the CSPD was conducting its internal investigations. Caroline confronted him about a web of deceit that supposedly involved multiple affairs—including rumors of a relationship with someone from the Department of Human Services (DHS)—and allegations of domestic abuse.
It paints a picture of a man who was very good at wearing a mask.
One day he’s the respected Lieutenant Kern on the evening news, and the next, his family is discovering he isn't the person they thought he was at all. It’s the kind of story that makes you wonder how well we ever really know the people in power.
Why the Decertification Matters
On December 2, 2022, the Colorado POST Board met to finalize the revocation of Joel Kern’s peace officer certification. This wasn't a "slap on the wrist" or a temporary suspension. It was a permanent revocation.
- Statutory Revocation: This was based on Colorado Statute 24-31-305(2.5), which deals specifically with untruthfulness.
- No Appeal: Kern notably did not request a Show Cause Hearing to fight the recommendation. He just let it happen.
- The Impact: This means he can never work as a licensed peace officer in the state of Colorado again.
The irony here is pretty thick. Kern had spent years as a detective and supervisor. He knew the system inside and out. He even handled high-profile cases, like a 2003 sexual assault investigation where he was credited with picking up a "languishing" case and identifying a suspect through DNA evidence. He had the "hero" resume.
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But the system that he used to catch criminals is the same one that eventually flagged his own lack of integrity.
Systemic Questions and the "Golden Few"
There is a lot of chatter in Colorado Springs about whether Kern was part of a "protected" class within the department. In the Betrayal podcast, they talk about "The Golden Few"—a group of officers who allegedly felt they were above the rules because of their connections.
Whether or not there was a formal "club," the fact remains that Kern was a Lieutenant. He had power. He had influence. When someone at that level is found to be "untruthful," it casts a long shadow over every case they ever touched.
Think about it. If a guy is caught lying to his own department during an internal investigation, how can a jury trust anything he said on the stand five years ago? This is the nightmare scenario for a District Attorney. It creates a "toxic" legacy that can lead to old convictions being challenged and new cases being thrown out.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of people assume that when a cop "leaves" under a cloud of suspicion, they just go to the next town over and get a job. That happens more than it should, but not in this case. Because his certification was revoked for dishonesty, he is effectively blacklisted.
Also, it’s worth noting that while the podcast focuses heavily on the personal betrayal, the legal downfall was strictly about his conduct as an officer. The CSPD doesn't fire people just for having affairs (usually); they fire them for lying about it during official investigations or abusing their authority.
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Kern's case is a reminder that the "cover-up" is almost always what gets you in the end.
Actionable Insights for the Community
If you live in Colorado Springs or are following this case, there are a few things you should keep in mind about police accountability:
- Check the POST Database: Anyone can look up the Colorado POST database to see if an officer has been decertified. It’s a public record for a reason.
- Understand "Brady Lists": If you are ever involved in a legal case, your lawyer should always check if the responding officers are on a "Brady list" for past dishonesty.
- Listen to the Victims: The emotional toll on the families of officers who lead double lives is often ignored by the system. The Betrayal podcast is a rare look at the "collateral damage" of police misconduct.
Joel Kern’s story isn't just about one guy who lost his job. It’s a case study in how quickly a "stellar" career can evaporate when the foundation of honesty is missing. He went from being the face of the CSPD to a cautionary tale in a podcast series.
For the people of Colorado Springs, the focus now is on whether the department has actually changed its culture or if there are more "Joel Kerns" still walking the beat.
If you suspect police misconduct or have questions about officer credibility in a specific case, you can contact the Colorado POST board or request public records through a CORA (Colorado Open Records Act) request to see internal affairs summaries. Keeping an eye on these records is the only way to ensure that "untruthfulness" doesn't just get swept under the rug.