A Sunday afternoon on the water turned tragic in Colorado this week. Corporal Stephen Biggs, a 16-year veteran of the Pueblo Police Department, disappeared while wakeboarding at Lake Pueblo around 5:30 p.m. Search crews worked through the night and located his body at approximately 2 a.m. Monday, resting in 48 feet of water. A remotely operated vehicle was used in the recovery.
Biggs joined the department in 2010 and built a career around service. He worked as a patrol training officer and served on the SWAT team, earning 10 letters of commendation, three Medal of Valor awards, and the Distinguished Service award. Chief Chris Noeller said working with Stephen was an honor and described his loss as deeply personal, adding that his courage and dedication to fellow officers meant so much to the department. His patrol car will be parked at headquarters as a sign of respect.
For those of us here on the Suncoast, this story hits close to home. Water is part of daily life in these beach communities, and whether it is the Gulf, a bay, or a lake up north, conditions can shift faster than anyone expects. Biggs was fit, trained, and experienced in high-pressure situations, which is exactly why this loss is worth pausing over. Life vests, a spotter, and a check-in plan are simple habits that save lives.
When you saw this story, did it make you think differently about your own time on the water?
