By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Corp. Trisha Worley, a 14-year veteran of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated for allegations of embezzlement, a a press release from Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario reads.
According to information provided by the sheriff, Worley was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 23, when there was a formal accusation that she had embezzled funds from a local nonprofit organization.
An internal investigation revealed enough evidence that, on Nov. 7, she was terminated.
Colorado Bureau of Investigations is taking the lead on any criminal charges that may result from their investigation to avoid any perception of conflict of interest in the case, the sheriff said.
Whenever a member of a law enforcement agency has one of their own being investigated and potentially charged with a crime, it is routine and in keeping with best practices to have a different agency complete the investigation and charge the individual in that case.
CBI will release any further information on the case. According to the press release, the investigation is still in the early stages, and cases like this take some time to complete.
“As the sheriff, I firmly believe that law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard by the people we serve. If we cannot police ourselves, how can the community have confidence in our ability to police them? As such, I expect and support a rigorous and thorough criminal investigation. However, it is equally important to remember that everyone in this country has Constitutional rights, regardless of their profession and are innocent until proven guilty,” Vallario wrote in a statement.
When the sheriff’s office released the press statement on their social media pages, people in the community had varying reactions to the news. Some people who knew Worley, both personally and in the capacity of her job, were stunned at the allegations. They wrote comments of support and concern.
Lauren Kravitz wrote, “What is the point of posting this before the investigation is complete?”
Tina Bowlan asked Kravits, “Why is it different from any one else who is accused of a crime and posted,” apparently defending the sheriff’s office for treating all subjects of investigations the same.
“This case is in the early stages. I will, however, be as transparent as possible as the case develops while respecting the investigation, judicial system and the rights of those accused,” promised Vallario.