Florence Manager says failure to report missing city money not police chief’s fault

FLORENCE, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirms to 13 Investigates the Florence Police Chief did not follow the direction from his city council to request an investigation by state law enforcement into missing city taxpayer money.

This revelation comes just a day after 13 Investigates reported on Florence City Council executive session tapes that reveal elected officials were struggling to address the police chief's years of knowledge of a city hall sex scandal, poorly stored police evidence, and allegations of nepotism in the police department.

"I can confirm that the Florence Police Chief contacted the CBI on March 9 to request investigative assistance related to the severance package of the former chief. After reviewing the request, it was determined this was most likely a policy issue involving the City Council and the City Manager, and did not appear to be criminal in nature. That information was reported back to the current chief," CBI spokeswoman Susan Medina said in an email.

Florence Police Chief Shane Prickett was directed by City Councilman Brian Allen on March 7 to request the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to look into unauthorized interest-free loans paid to several city executives from 2013 to 2018. The city council was unaware of the loans that were used to pay for employees' cars and personal housework until 13 Investigates uncovered city records and presented them with our findings.

The current Florence Finance Director told 13 Investigates that around $2,000 from the "employee advance" account is unaccounted for and the city doesn't have receipts to back up what the public money was used for.

The Florence Chief of Police told 13 Investigates he first reached out to Colorado Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jodi Wright on March 8 to request an investigation. Prickett also forwarded us an email Florence PD Lt. Mike Ingle sent to the Pueblo Police Department requesting assistance.

During a Mayor's Coffee Chat with citizens and Florence Interim City Manager Tim Piltingsrud on Thursday morning, the request for an investigation by CBI was brought up by taxpayers over Zoom.

"It says -- why isn't the city pursuing charges against [the fired city manager] for money issues? Would it incriminate others? Is that why?" Florence Clerk Jessica Hill read.

"The Chief of Police contacted CBI at the direction of council regarding the wage advances, advances on payroll. CBI determined there was no criminal activity," interim city manager Piltingsrud responded.

"That was a blow-off," citizen Mark Sullivan said. "Period. No questions about it. Then, we are going to go further than that with it."

"I'm just telling you what CBI said," Piltingsrud said.

"I understand that," Sullivan said. "The fact remains that money is missing."

"Well, some $2,000," Piltinsgurd said.

"You have the $2,000 to replace it with? Because I don't. That is a lot of money," Sullivan replied.

"The question is why didn't we pursue the CBI. We did. The CBI determined there was no crime," Piltingsrud said.

Here are the avenues that the CBI can use to obtain jurisdiction to investigate Florence's corruption allegations:

Case Acceptance Considerations

CRS 24-335-412, Functions of Bureau, states that the Bureau has the following authority:

When assistance is requested by any sheriff, chief of police, district attorney, head of a state agency, or chief law enforcement officer and with the approval of the director, to assist such state agency or law enforcement authority in the investigation and detection of crime and in the enforcement of the criminal laws of the state.

While preferable for the Bureau to handle all requests that might be received, as a practical matter the Bureau may be unable to do so because of call volume, workload, staffing, or other limitations.  When it becomes necessary to prioritize requests for service, the following Case Acceptance Considerations will be applied:

• Investigation of major felony cases for which the local jurisdiction needs resources or expertise that can be provided by the Bureau.
• Officer-involved shootings, particularly in jurisdictions lacking resources or expertise, or in jurisdictions with which the Bureau has agreed to assist through a Memorandum of Understanding.
• Public Corruption cases having widespread negative implications for the administration of justice in a particular region or jurisdiction, or those requiring a level of independent review that can only be provided by the Bureau.
• Cases generated by Task Forces upon which CBI Agents serve, or generated by key agency partners on matters of mutual concern.

As a general rule, the Bureau will be unable to assist with the following:

• Investigation of Internal Affairs matters, such as violations of agency policy, or misconduct that is unlikely to be considered criminal.
• Disputes between agencies, political entities, or with members of the public, not likely to involve significant criminal conduct.
• Cases which have no reasonable likelihood of solvability or prosecution.
• Cases for which criminality isn’t readily apparent (i.e., ‘fishing expeditions’).
• Cases which can be adequately handled at the local level, by either the requesting agency or through partner agency assistance.

13 Investigates has asked the Florence Police Chief and City Council for comment on the failure to follow an elected official's direction on what to request of the CBI. Sources in the Florence government tell us they are working to address the issue.

Thursday evening, Interim City Manager Thomas Piltingsrud responded with the following comment taking blame for the "miscommunication":

As we discussed earlier, the fault of the CBI not examining the wage advance/loan authorized by Terminated City Manager Patterson was my mistake, not Chief Prickett’s.

The City had two issues being examined, the Delaurentis – Patterson Separation Agreement and the Wage/loan advances authorized by Patterson although not permitted by the City’s personnel policy.

I knew Chief Prickett was following up with CBI regarding the Separation Agreement but also thought he had done so with the Wage/loan issue.  So when I spoke this morning I was under the impression that CBI had ruled on the Wage/loan issue.  Chief Prickett, Finance Officer Lori Cobler and I talked to CBI today and they told us that the Wage/loan issue is not a felony, and “the parameters of this case do not meet CBI acceptance standards.”

Chelsea I am sorry about the confusion.  The fault lies with me.

Thomas H. Piltingsrud
Interim City Manager

If you have something you want our team to get to the bottom of, email us at 13Investigates@krdo.com.