Former Adams County sheriff sentenced to probation, will give up officer certification in training records fraud scheme
May 2, 2024 (DENVER)—Former Adams County Sheriff Rick Reigenborn today pleaded guilty and was sentenced by a Denver District Court judge for his role in carrying out a scheme to falsify records and claim credit for state-mandated law enforcement training that he did not complete.
Reigenborn pleaded guilty to one count felony forgery and two misdemeanor crimes of second-degree forgery and first-degree official misconduct. He received a 12-month deferred sentence on the felony forgery charge and a concurrent 12-month probation sentence on the misdemeanor charges. As part of a plea agreement, the former sheriff will relinquish his state peace officer certification and will no longer be eligible to serve as a peace officer in Colorado. He must also write a letter of apology to the men and women of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
“We are committed to ensuring law enforcement integrity and that all law enforcement officers engage in necessary training. Former Sheriff Reigenborn failed to do that, undermined his professional obligations, and broke the law. We are holding him accountable for these actions and sending a message that we take violations of training requirements very seriously,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, who also serves as chair of Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training or POST.
Colorado peace officers are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of annual in-service training, including at least 12 hours of perishable skills training in arrest control, driving, and firearms. Law enforcement agencies are responsible for submitting truthful and accurate data to POST. A law enforcement agency can lose access to POST grant funds if it is found to be out of compliance with POST training rules due to their officers failing to complete required annual training.
State law, C.R.S. 24-31-307(3), authorizes the attorney general to enforce violations of POST training standards and bring criminal charges if the violation is knowingly or intentional, or impose fines.
Former Adams County Undersheriff Thomas McLallen pleaded guilty and was sentenced in January for his role in the training records fraud scheme. Former Division Chief Michael Bethel faces charges in the case, including felony counts of forgery, attempt to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit forgery, and conspiracy to attempt to influence a public servant. Bethel’s next appearance in court is June 13.
The filing of criminal charges is a formal accusation that an individual committed a crime under Colorado laws. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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