Colorado POST Board revokes certifications of six officers for untruthfulness
Dec. 11, 2020 (DENVER, Colo.) – During its quarterly meeting today, the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board revoked the certifications of six peace officers for knowingly making untruthful statements while conducting their official duties. It is the first time the Board has decertified officers for untruthfulness under Senate Bill 19-166, which was enacted by the General Assembly during the 2019 legislative session.
According to Colorado law and POST Board rules, an officer’s certification may be suspended or revoked if a law enforcement agency has found, by clear and convincing evidence, that the certificate holder knowingly made an untruthful statement concerning a material fact while testifying under oath or during an internal affairs investigation or comparable administrative investigation, or knowingly omitted a material fact on an official criminal justice record.
The law enforcement agencies where each of the six individuals were employed found that the officers violated the untruthfulness law and reported them to POST as required by law. The POST staff notified each person of their right for a show cause hearing, but none requested a hearing or indicated any intent to oppose the revocation. As a result of this action, these six persons are no longer able to work as certified peace officers in Colorado. The revocation actions will be entered into the National Decertification Index, which is available to law enforcement and POST agencies through the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
“Public trust is achieved when law enforcement officers act with honesty and accountability. While the vast majority of peace officers honor this trust each and every day they put on their badge, unfortunately, there are some officers that do not belong in this profession. Senate Bill 19-166, and today’s actions by the POST Board, ensure that only the right persons are entrusted to serve as Colorado law enforcement officers in our communities,” said Attorney General Phil Weiser, who serves as POST Board chair.
“Integrity is the cornerstone for positive relationships between law enforcement officers and their communities. When individual peace officers violate this trust, it damages that relationship for everyone in the profession. It is essential that we hold these persons accountable and ensure they will no longer serve in Colorado as certified peace officers,” said POST Director Erik Bourgerie.
An officer’s POST certification can also be revoked for conviction of a felony or certain misdemeanors. In addition to the six revocations today for untruthfulness, the Board also decertified one officer who was convicted of felony Second Degree Burglary, and another officer who accepted a pretrial diversion plea agreement for one count of Third Degree Assault and one count of Harassment, both of which are misdemeanors.
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