A Commerce City police officer arrested in connection with an investigation into his own shooting received a “purple heart” award from the department two years ago for an incident which lacked a suspect arrest.
In 2013, Officer Kevin Lord received the department’s Purple Heart, awarded to officers who suffer serious injuries in the performance of duty.
No suspect, however, was arrested in the late-night July 3, 2013, incident for which Lord was recognized.
On Friday, Lord, 50, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to influence a public official, a felony, as well as a misdemeanor, making a false report, in connection with his Nov. 8 shooting.
Lord, an eight-year veteran of Commerce City, said he was shot during a traffic stop. A $20,000 reward for information leading to a suspect was offered. An investigation, however, led to Lord’s arrest.
Fellow officers who responded to the 2013 incident at a home under construction in the 9600 block of Nucla Street, found a dazed Lord, complaining of “feeling woozy” and “seeing stars,” according to incident reports. Lord told responding officers he had been assaulted by a fleeing burglary suspect, who beat him about the head and upper torso as Lord held him in a “bear hug” during an attempt to keep the suspect from jumping a fence to flee.
After suffering several blows with fists and elbows Lord threw the suspect to the ground, according to incident reports. But the suspect jumped and pummeled Lord again, before jumping the fence and running off.
There was no witness to the assault.
An officer did note a large lump over Lord’s left eyebrow as well as a small bruise under his left eye.
Taken to a local hospital, a physician’s assistant examined Lord after the burglary and assault, noting “multiple blows about the temporal region.”
“He has clinical symptoms of concussive syndrome” the physician’s statement said.
Wire cutters were found inside the home, near electrical wires.
No other officers who responded to assist Lord saw the suspect.
No suspect fingerprints were found, including on the wire cutters.
In 2013, Lord missed 306 hours — 38.25 days — of work, according to police records.
He missed 137 hours — 17.13 days — in 2014.
On May 27, 2015, Lord was found “at-fault in a vehicle accident while performing his duties,” according to police records.
The accident at the intersection of I-76 and U.S. Highway 85 “was preventable…and could have been avoided,” according to a department review.
“Officer Lord admitted to the mistake and took full accountability of his actions” in regard to the vehicle accident, according to records. The review was closed.
An arrest affidavit in the current case has been sealed. Lord is free on $5,000 bond, his next court appearance in Adams County is scheduled Nov. 30.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson
