A number of operational issues were discovered during the investigation and included: serious deficiencies about the operations of the evidence and property room
December 22, 2021
Longtime Firestone Chief of Police David Montgomery retired this year, following a months-long investigation into the police department that officials said revealed policy and procedural issues. A new police chief is slated to take the helm of the department at the beginning of the new year.
The investigation was prompted by allegations of misconduct, leading Montgomery to be placed on paid administrative leave in February. During his leave, he earned his annual salary of $144,826. Montgomery’s retirement was announced in July.
The Firestone Board of Trustees in June heard about the investigation results, when Alan Youngs, a former chief of the Lakewood Police Department and an attorney, shared his findings. Youngs was hired by the board in April to conduct the investigation.
According to officials, the investigation showed instances in which the police chief demonstrated nepotism, failure to follow various federally or state-mandated protocols and other issues.
A number of operational issues were discovered during the investigation and included: serious deficiencies about the operations of the evidence and property room; failure to submit Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners’ kits to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; and a lack of required supervisor personnel testing and training.
Youngs also shared with the board comments from an officer who had been interviewed during the investigation. The officer talked about inconsistencies in the hiring process and how some applicants could skip portions of the application, while others were made to complete the entire document. Similarly, the officer said, a person could be simply appointed to a new position, while other times there was a testing process. Out of the 27 officers interviewed, 26 said they didn’t want to see Montgomery return to the department.
Leading up to the investigation, there were several incidents that drew attention to the police department’s management, policies, procedures and practices in 2019 and 2020. This included “concerns regarding officer conduct, adherence to statutory requirements, department policies, workplace culture and disciplinary practices,” according to a Firestone news release. Montgomery was placed on leave shortly after the allegations were made.
Montgomery served the Firestone community from 1991 to 2021, according to a Firestone news release. Early in his appointment, the chief operated the department with only two other officers. The department has since grown to include 33 sworn officers and four civilian employees.
The town appointed Deputy Chief Bryce Borders as interim chief in July.
In December, the town announced that David C. Angelo was chosen to be the newest police chief, with his first day slated to by Jan. 10. Angelo comes to Firestone after serving the Houston Police Department for 27 years. He was selected from 60 applicants across the nation.
Through Dec.31, the Times-Call will count down the top stories of the year, as selected by the newspaper’s editors.
No. 10: Firestone police chief retires after investigation reveals procedural issues
