CSPD officer still on the payroll, 3+ months after child abuse conviction
UPDATE: A spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Police confirmed that Shane Reed is no longer an officer with the department. Reed resigned "late last year," the spokesperson said.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- Colorado Springs Police officer Shane Reed was convicted on a child abuse charge in July, accused of dragging a sexual assault victim by his wrist up to a fence and threatening to kill him.
Since his conviction, which has been 16 straight weeks, Reed has received a paycheck while being placed on leave.
In his last court appearance, Reed said he is no longer in a relationship with Kristen Wessel, who has been booked in the El Paso County Jail since January, facing a $140,000 bond for violating a protection order after the alleged sexual assault of a child. Court documents show Wessel agreed to a plea agreement on Oct. 31.
But more than three months after Reed agreed to a plea deal that dropped all of his original charges, except misdemeanor child abuse, Reed is still on paid leave administrative leave pending an investigation, per a Colorado Springs Police Department spokesperson.
"It's frustrating," the victim's father told KRDO Wednesday. "It's very frustrating something hasn't already been done. That something hasn't already been decided."
Depending on the date Reed started working for CSPD in March of 2018, and according to CSPD's payscale on the department website, Reed earns at least $38.56 per hour. 16 weeks' pay at 38.56 per hour, means Reed has collected $24,677 since he was convicted while waiting on the outcome of the police department investigation.
"If I was charged with assault on a child and I pleaded guilty, I would lose my job, I would not be working anymore. Police officers need to be held to a higher standard. So you would think the opposite would happen. He would lose his job, or at the very least, he wouldn't be getting paid," the father said.
Reed was placed on paid leave until he was formally charged on March 30th, collecting an estimated additional 2,776.32. He then went on unpaid leave until his conviction in July.
According to the CSPD handbook, "An employee may be placed on administrative leave with or without pay at the discretion of the chief, so long as it does not conflict with Civil Service rules."
KRDO reached Reed by phone Wednesday. He said he, "had to go" after learning he was speaking with a reporter.
Reed is not immediately disqualified because he pled guilty to a misdemeanor and not a felony change. POST records show he is still a certified peace officer in Colorado.
But the victim and his family don't understand why Reed's status hasn't been cemented, and why this investigation is still happening.
"It's gone on too long," the father added.
