Thornton police have completed their investigation into a possible conflict of interest over a police commander’s involvement in a Colorado State Patrol case.
Cmdr. Lori Moriarty assisted the State Patrol traffic investigation of a crash in which two Berthoud High School students lost their legs.
Her involvement “was not in her official capacity,” her boss, Police Chief Jim Nursey, said today.
“Cmdr. Moriarty’s participation in the accident investigation was not in her official capacity as a Thornton police officer, nor was it a Thornton-sanctioned technical assistance, investigative assistance or mutual aid activity,” Nursey said.
Moriarty is a close friend of the family of Tyler Carron, one of the students injured in the January accident in Larimer County.
Asked if Moriarty’s action was inappropriate or whether she has been disciplined by the department, Nursey said he could not comment because it’s a “personnel matter.”
“There is no evidence that Cmdr. Moriarty’s involvement in the accident investigation or any related activity was criminal in nature,” Nursey said.
Moriarty could not be reached for comment.
She held a video camera and recorded part of the accident reconstruction by a State Patrol investigator.
Meanwhile, the State Patrol is writing new policy guidelines regarding investigative assistance it receives.
“There are times when we will have assistance from officers from other agencies, but typically during a reconstruction phase, we would not have anyone who might have ties to someone involved in the crash assisting in the investigation,” said Sgt. Jeff Goodwin, a State Patrol spokesman.
The Thornton probe and questions about possible conflicts of interest will not damage the validity of the state patrol’s findings, Goodwin said.
“Holding a video camera for the reconstruction is not going to make any difference in the outcome of the investigation,” Goodwin said. “We feel like (our investigator’s) work is going to suffice and prove itself out in court.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
