Weld County Deputies Relieved Of Duties Following Incident
Three Weld County, Colo. sheriff's deputies have been relieved of duty following an incident during a suspect interrogation last month, according to statement on the agency's Facebook page:
''Three Deputies with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office have been relieved of duty following an incident that took place on October 18, 2019. A suspect was being held in an interview room at the Weld County Sheriff’s Office for the Loveland Police Department under suspicion of criminal activity. While deputies were attempting to restrain the suspect, he resisted deputies, refusing to follow verbal commands. Deputy Paul Saunders punched the suspect in the back of the head during this process; a technique that is neither instructed nor approved by the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Saunders has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since June of 2019 and was in training at the time of the incident.
When the incident was reported that day, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office took immediate administrative action and launched an internal investigation. Deputy Saunders was issued a summons for 3rd degree assault and was terminated from employment.
Two other staff members that were involved in the incident, were both 15-year veterans of the Weld County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Todd Deutsch resigned from the Sheriff’s Office and Sergeant Scott Holmen was terminated from employment as a result of the internal investigation.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office recognizes and respects the value of each human life that deputies encounter at every call for service. The actions of these deputies were outside the scope of their assigned duties and undermine the Sheriff’s Office mission; to provide effective public safety services with honor and integrity.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the continued support received from the Weld County Community and we hope to continue building partnerships with our community with the closure of this investigation.
Due to an active criminal investigation, as well as an active administrative process, this is all the information that the we are authorized to release at this time. No further statements will be given concerning this incident.''
More From KGAB
![Watch Weld County Deputies Capture Runaway Emu [Video]](http://townsquare.media/site/99/files/2024/03/attachment-Untitled-design-142.jpg?w=980&q=75)
