NOREEN: CSPD having a bad year, but why?
If you think Colorado Springs police have been in the news a lot this year for the wrong reasons, you’re right. The question is what, if anything, to do about it.
Speaking for Mayor Steve Bach, Chief of Staff Steve Cox said “Right now, we’re experiencing an anomaly.”
Asked if the mayor’s office has confidence in the police department and Police Chief Richard Myers, Cox replied, “The first question, the answer is ‘yes.’ And do we have confidence in Rich Myers? The answer is ‘yes.’ ”
The Gazette has been unraveling the case of the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intel Division’s investigation at the Hooter’s bar. Officers were evasive about their activities and the city attorney’s office dismissed two cases after CSPD claimed it did nothing wrong.
Well, you dismiss a case when you don’t have one. The Hooter’s caper is the latest in a series that doesn’t reflect well on CSPD:
• In May, officer Josh Carrier was accused of serial sex assaults involving numerous Colorado Springs School District 11 students. More than 20 are purported to be victims in what has become the biggest pedophilia case in city history.
• In June, CSPD officer Sydney Huffman was arrested and charged with false reporting in connection with an incident involving her ex-boyfriend, a former Manitou Springs officer.
• Police dispatcher Kayla Hogan, who had two previous DUI convictions, was charged with attempted aggravated motor vehicle theft in July after reportedly taking a hot dog vendor’s vehicle, claiming she was in pursuit of a criminal.
• On March 5, VNI officers spent $700 on drinks and “dances” at PT’s Showclub. Lt. John Godsey defended the investigation, saying “You can’t just nurse one drink.”
Seven City Council members responded to a Gazette query about whether they stand by the police department and Myers; two chose not to. The results:
• Councilman Bernie Herpin said he still has confidence in the department, but with regard to the Hooter’s case, added, “I am concerned about the allocation of resources and whether this was a good allocation of resources.”
Councilwoman Angela Dougan, the wife of a police sergeant, remains a supporter of the department, but said of the CSPD response to questions in the Hooter’s case: “I wasn’t pleased with it. It wasn’t a complete answer. Is it a leadership crisis? I really don’t know. Are we learning what we need to learn from it? That’s what I want to hear from the chief.”
• Council members Tim Leigh, Val Snider, Merv Bennett, Scott Hente and Jan Martin strongly support the department and its leadership and offered no criticism.
Josh Carrier an anomaly? Ok.
First-rate police work at Hooter’s? That’s a bit harder to believe.
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Listen to Barry Noreen on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM and 1240 AM at 6:35 a.m. on Fridays and read his blog updates at gazette.com
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