Commissioner calls for Sheriff’s resignation as new allegations reportedly surface

An El Paso County commissioner says embattled Sheriff Terry Maketa should resign or go on leave.

Commissioner Peggy Littleton made the comments at a board of county commissioners meeting Tuesday morning.

Meanwhile, other commissioners say they want to wait for a complete investigation into the allegations against Maketa and others have not publicly commented.

Littleton made the comments as the commissioners were discussing allegations of sexual discrimination and creating a hostile work environment that have been levied against the sheriff and became public on Friday (5/23/14).

“Clearly the thing that people want most from their elected officials is trust,” Littleton told KRDO NewsChannel 13. “We have had a breach of trust and confidence here in El Paso County and I don’t want to allow that anymore.”

The sheriff’s office released a response to Littleton’s call for Maketa’s resignation on Tuesday afternoon. In the statement, Maketa said he had no intention to resign. You can read the full statement here.

Commissioner Dennis Hisey told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that asking Maketa to resign was premature. He said he would like to see the independent investigation into Maketa’s actions be completed first.

Commissioners will discuss the matter at Thursday’s board meeting. Hisey told KRDO that they posted a public notice for the meeting, meaning commissioners could vote on whether or not they think Maketa should resign. Even with a vote, commissioners cannot force him to step down.

The commissioners comments come amidst a new complaint filed against Maketa. Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the complaint was filed on May 26 by a patrol deputy named Cliff Porter.

The seven page complaint says that Porter served as a delegate for his precinct at the El Paso County Republican Assembly and felt pressured to vote for John Anderson, who Maketa endorsed to succeed him as sheriff.

The complaint also accuses Maketa of creating a hostile work environment based on sexual favoritism toward women.

The complaint names Maketa, Undersheriff Paula Presley, Chief Al Harmon, Commander John San Agustin, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and El Paso County.

The county says that it received the original workforce complaint against Maketa on May 12, 2014.

The board of county commissioners scheduled a conference with the county attorney the next day and Sheriff Maketa was formally notified in a letter from the entire board on May 16, 2014.

In the letter, Maketa was notified that a complaint had been filed and that an investigation would be launched immediately.

The letter also mentions May 13, 2014 media reports that the employees who filed the complaints have been placed on administrative leave for violating sheriff’s office policies. On May 14, 2014, KRDO NewsChannel 13 reported that three Sheriff’s Office commanders were put on paid administrative leave.

On Friday, May 23, 2014, The Colorado Springs Gazette broke the news about the complaint that had been filed against Maketa.

The complaint filed by Commanders Rodney Gehrett, Mitchel Lincoln and Robert King alleges that Maketa had a sexual relationship with three subordinates. The commanders claim that those subordinates are Undersheriff Paula Presley, comptroller Dorene Cardarelle and head of training for dispatchers, Tiffany Huntz.

The women have denied having a sexual relationship with Maketa.

The Gazette and the Denver Post have also called for Maketa to resign because of the scandal.