Las Animas Police Chief Fired

Las Animas is without a police chief. Don Trujillo was fired Tuesday night at a city council meeting.

Jayla Ratzlaff, a Las Animas resident, said it had to do with an incident that happened last month.

?It was ignored and it should have been more catered to. You’re suppose to be a protector,? said Ratzlaff.

A teen brought a .22 magnum revolver to Las Animas Elementary.

?He was playing on the playground and he brought a gun with bullets. He unloaded the gun and gave it to kids to pass around, to hold and look at. Then he loaded the gun back up and asked if anyone wanted to play Russian Roulette,? said Ratzlaff.

Residents were mad it took police a week to arrest the teen. Trujillo was suspended for two weeks with pay.

Tuesday evening, Mayor Lawrence Sena and council members fired him.

?I think there was a mixed bag. I think primarily people were supportive of what the council did last night,? said Sena.

?I have mixed feelings about it. I mean, he was fired for a reason,? said Ratzlaff.

Sena wouldn?t elaborate on the reason.

?I can’t give you a reason for dismissal. We are an at will employer,? said Sena.

He told KRDO NewsChannel 13, residents had complained about Trujillo before the gun incident.

Trujillo was the police chief for almost 17 years.

?It was not an easy decision on my part, nor the council’s part,? said Sena.

The Bent County Sheriff is currently playing the role of sheriff and interim police chief.

Sena said he is not sure when they will hire a replacement for Trujillo.