GRAND JUNCTION — Three officers have been fired, one has resigned and another remains on paid leave as an investigation of police officers mistreating the homeless wraps up in Grand Junction.
Grand Junction Police Chief John Camper said he does not expect more firings in the 110-officer department after some officers slashed tents and bicycle tires belonging to the homeless and others, in separate incidents, sprayed sleeping bags and rooms at abandoned buildings with pepper spray.
“The intent of what was going on is important to the investigation. We have to make a determination whether it was malicious or whether it was a well-intentioned but misguided attempt to keep persons out of certain places,” Camper said.
Camper characterized the slashing of property as malicious. He said with the use of the pepper spray, also known as OC spray, “it would appear we don’t have that level of maliciousness or property damage.”
The ongoing investigation of these incidents began in May when an advocacy group for the homeless reported that officers went into a camp near downtown and damaged property left there by homeless people. Officers Justin Roberts, Phillip Van Why and Joseph Mulcahy were fired for causing the damage.
The police department also purchased new tents that were distributed to the homeless.
During interviews, the three fired officers gave information about other officers using pepper spray to deter the homeless from gathering at certain places. That resulted in the resignation of the unnamed officer this week and the investigation of another, who is also not being identified.
Camper said he has stressed to his department that the homeless “be treated with the same courtesy and respect as anyone else.”
He also issued a special order this week reiterating that pepper spray is to be used only as a defensive weapon. It is not to be used as a deterrent to keep people from certain locations.
Camper, who was named interim chief in August and chief in February, said he does not expect any more fallout in the investigation.
“It needed to be dealt with. It has been dealt with,” Camper said. “And I don’t expect it to happen again.”
Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com
