Maketa probe brings candidate statement, closed web page Saturday

While El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa remained silent Saturday about an investigation of his office, the situation moved ahead on two other fronts.

Bill Elder, the deputy police chief of Fountain and the only candidate seeking to succeed Maketa, released a brief statement about allegations of sexual harassment by three commanders and improper relationships with three female subordinates in the department.

This is Elder’s statement:

“I am saddened by the allegations. There obviously needs to be a full and comprehensive investigation of these allegations and the legal process needs to run its course. Accordingly, I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on the allegations any further. I can tell you, however, that as Sheriff, I will serve with integrity.”

Meanwhile, the administrator of the Facebook page “Terry Maketa for Colorado Governor” closed the page after the last post around 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Corey Wilson sent an email to KRDO NewsChannel 13 explaining that the page was closed because of posts critical of Maketa and calling for his resignation.

Also on Saturday, an FBI spokesman from the agency’s Denver office would neither confirm nor deny a report that the agency is conducting its own investigation of the Maketa situation.

El Paso County Commissioners hired an independent law firm to conduct the investigation. Maketa has said he will cooperate with the probe.