Gov. Bill Ritter’s initial choice for state emergency management director said Tuesday he was preparing for a legal battle after the governor yanked his job offer.
Chris Olson, whose offer was rescinded Monday after questions arose about his background, had signed a contract for a $123,000 job starting next week. He said he has hired an attorney.
“I have a signed contract,” Olson said. “We’ll just have to see how valid it is. I surely didn’t want to go that route. I don’t do that.”
The governor’s office has refused to say why it reversed course on Olson. But the decision was announced after The Denver Post questioned Ritter’s staff about a police report from a domestic-violence call to Olson’s home and management problems when he headed the Englewood police and fire departments.
Olson said Tuesday that he had discussed the problems with Ritter’s office late last week and that “none of these were issues that were secret.” He called the police visit to his home in November 2005 “just a dispute between my wife and myself.”
“There’s been no issues before and no issues since, but it was there – it’s a public record,” he said.
Olson called Ritter’s decision to withdraw the job offer “a little premature.”
“For the first time in 31 and a half years, I don’t have a job, which is not an easy thing to take,” he said. “I was really looking forward to taking this position on.”
Olson had already resigned as Englewood’s safety services director to take the state job coordinating recovery after floods, wildfires, tornadoes and terrorist attacks. He said he might consider asking for his old job back.
Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer has declined to say whether the governor’s staff did a background check before offering Olson the job, calling it a “confidential personnel matter.” State personnel policies do not require a background check, but they call for a reference check because it will “save a great deal of time, embarrassment or legal liability later,” according to the rules.
Dreyer would not comment on whether the governor is reviewing hiring procedures. But some Republican lawmakers said he should.
“It’s surprising to get that level of amateurism from the governor’s office,” said Sen. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield. “You expect the governor and his staff to do their homework before they send out press releases.
“I don’t know whether heads will roll, but procedures will change.”
Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said the reversal “should serve as a wake-up call.”
“I would hope that people in charge of emergency response and personal safety are investigated before getting the job,” Gardner said.
Olson was not charged with a crime when Denver police responded to a domestic-violence call at his home after his wife complained he had been drinking and was coming at her “as though he was going to hit her.” He did not strike her, according to the police report.
Englewood’s police union said it had no confidence in Olson’s leadership 2 1/2 years ago, claiming he failed to address problems that “led to dangerous situations for both police personnel and for the citizens.”
And the city of Englewood paid $354,300 in 2006 to settle a sexual discrimination claim against Olson by a female police officer. The state Division of Civil Rights determined in April 2005 that Olson’s firing of the officer likely was discriminatory.
Olson worked for Englewood for more than 30 years as a firefighter, paramedic and department manager. He had been Englewood’s director of safety services since 1997 and is a former president of the Denver Civil Service Commission.
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
