Inquiry Regarding Recent Developments in Estes Park Police Department

[Jason Van Tatenhove]

Dear Kate and Travis,

I hope you are doing well. I'm following up on the recent announcements and updates regarding the Estes Park Police Department. I appreciate the efforts towards transparency and integrity, as stated in your recent communication, and I have a few questions that would further clarify the situation for our community members.

1. Recruitment Expenditure: Could you please provide information on the taxpayer expenditure related to the recruitment and hiring of Chief Hayes? Understanding the financial aspects of such processes is essential for community awareness. Especially since we are now looking at going through the same process again, how much is it projected it will cost to find and recruit a new police chief for the people of the Estes Park community?
   
   
2. Choice of Investigating Agency: Given Loveland's public confidence issues, could you elaborate on the decision to involve the Loveland Police Department in handling the internal affairs complaint? 
   
   
   In recent years, several major lawsuits have been filed against the Loveland Police Department, raising concerns about their internal processes and public trust. These include:
   
   
   • Excessive Force Lawsuit (June 2022): A lawsuit was filed against LPD for an incident involving a 14-year-old, alleging unreasonable seizure, excessive force, and wrongful arrest, eventually leading to the dismissal of all charges against the girl and her father​​.
   

   
   

   • History of Wrongful DUI Arrests (January 2022): A lawsuit claimed wrongful DUI arrests by an LPD officer, citing a specific case where breath and blood tests showed zero intoxicants, yet the individual was arrested​​.
   

   
   

   • Arrest of a 73-year-old Woman with Dementia (June 2020): A civil rights lawsuit was filed against LPD for the forceful arrest of an elderly woman with dementia, resulting in a $3 million settlement and the resignation of involved officers​​.
   

   
   

   • Shooting of a Dog (June 2019): A lawsuit was filed after an LPD officer shot a 14-month-old dog, which later had to be euthanized due to the injuries​​.
   

   
   

   These are just a selection of recent issues reported regionally and nationally regarding the Loveland PD’s issues. 

   
   

   Given these incidents and the resulting public backlash, there are concerns about LPD's capacity to conduct impartial internal investigations. Could you clarify the rationale behind choosing LPD for these investigations, particularly in light of their recent history?
   Are there specific measures in place to ensure impartiality and thoroughness in their investigation?
   
   
3. Nature of Public Safety Records Incident: Regarding the mishandled public safety records, can you share any details on the nature of these records and the context in which they were allegedly misused? Furthermore, has this situation posed any risk to individuals or compromised any aspects of public safety or privacy?
   
   
4. Steps for Prevention and Oversight: What steps are being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future? Are there any plans to review or enhance oversight mechanisms within the Police Department?
   
   
5. Impact on Community Trust: How does the Police Department plan to address and rebuild community trust in light of these investigations and the changes in leadership?
6. 
   
   Updates on Investigations: Could you let me know how updates on these investigations can be communicated to the public? Will there be regular briefings or releases of information?
   
   
   Whistleblower Policy Allegations: I have come across allegations, as mentioned in a recent email by Michael Romero of The Estes Park Trail-Gazette, regarding the handling of the Town’s whistleblower policy. Specifically, there are claims that individuals seeking to speak under the protection of this policy were not granted such status and instead faced reprimands and consequences. Could you provide clarity on how the whistleblower policy is implemented and enforced? Are there mechanisms in place to ensure that individuals who come forward with concerns are protected and that their allegations are investigated impartially? Are there publicly available records of whistle-blower complaints to the town of Estes Park?
   
   
   Situation Surrounding Former Captain Eric Rose: Recent revelations about former Captain Eric Rose, including his tragic death and the allegations of domestic violence, have raised significant concerns within our community. The fact that these issues were seemingly unknown to the town leadership until after his death has further intensified public worry about internal oversight and transparency within the Police Department. Could you comment on how the department addresses these concerns and what steps are being taken to enhance internal monitoring to prevent such situations in the future?
   
   

   Given these multifaceted issues, the community's trust in our law enforcement's internal processes and leadership decisions is understandably being tested. Clarifying these matters is crucial for maintaining public confidence in our local institutions.

Thank you for taking a look at these questions. Your responses will significantly contribute to an informed and engaged community.

I'm looking forward to hearing back from you.

Best regards,

Jason Van Tatenhove ja...@coloradoswitchblade.com

PS - my invitation for Travis and Chief Hayes to come on the podcast and discuss these complex issues is still open