Author: Julia Cardi
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Colorado custody evaluator suspended amid criticism of evaluation industry
The Colorado State Court Administrator’s Office has suspended a high-profile custody evaluator from continuing to receive court appointments following controversy over his parenting recommendations amid recent media scrutiny of the parenting evaluation industry. Jaime Watman, an official in the State Court Administrator’s Office, in a statement confirmed last week’s suspension of Mark Kilmer from ongoing…
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Steven Pankey convicted of kidnapping, felony murder in Jonelle Matthews’ 1984 disappearance
A Weld County jury Monday found Steve Pankey guilty of felony murder and second-degree kidnapping for the 1984 disappearance and death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews from her Greeley home a few days before Christmas. He received a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years. The jury acquitted Pankey of first-degree, premeditated murder.…
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Case of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews disappearance goes to jury for second time
A jury is deliberating for the second time whether Steven Pankey is responsible for the 1984 disappearance and death of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews in Greeley. She disappeared the night of Dec. 20 from her family’s home on 43rd Avenue Court after a school choir concert, in an hourlong period between a close friend’s father dropping…
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Recruitment, morale continuing concerns for Colorado law enforcement agencies, survey says
Colorado law enforcement agencies continue to have trouble recruiting and retaining officers, according to a new survey by the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, the County Sheriffs Association and the Colorado Fraternal Order of Police. Members who responded to the survey most often ranked officer morale and recruitment and retention as top concerns, with…
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Lawsuit over “The Holly” film and book dismissed
Two men who sued author and filmmaker Julian Rubinstein claiming he named them as gang members in his works called “The Holly” have dropped their lawsuit. Sheria Hicks and Pernell Hines sued Rubinstein, the publishers of his book and the companies that produced his documentary for libel and slander, claiming Rubinstein named them as members…
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Ron Thomas sworn in as Denver’s new police chief
Ron Thomas is sworn in as the new Chief of Police of the Denver Police Department on Oct. 18, 2022. He replaces the retiring Paul Pazen. Denver has a new top cop — at least until the mayor’s administration changes next year. Chief Ron Thomas took his oath of office Tuesday morning from Presiding Judge Nicole…
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Paul Pazen reflects on four-year tenure as Denver’s police chief
Paul Pazen, Denver’s outgoing police chief, will retire Oct. 15, after he announced at the end of August his intention to step down. His 27 years with the Denver Police Department included four years as chief and a stint as the commander of patrol District One before that. Pazen’s tenure as chief included helping…
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Lisa Calderón, director of Emerge Colorado, joins race for Denver mayor
Lisa Calderón, the director of Emerge Colorado and a professor at Regis University, announced Thursday morning she will run in Denver’s 2023 mayoral election. She finished third in the 2019 mayoral primary. Calderón said in a news release that she wants to rebuild trust in government institutions, which she characterizes at an “all-time” low because…
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Safe2Tell reports increase 89% in September from August
The tip line that allows Colorado students to anonymously report potential threats, Safe2Tell, saw its report volume increase by 89% in September compared to August. The program received 2,025 reports last month, the attorney general’s office said in a news release Tuesday. The tip line received 250 suicide threats and 177 reports of bullying, the…
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Mother blames parental evaluator for the death of her 10-year-old son
In the Gazette’s investigation of the broken system of child custody evaluations, one notorious case stood out. A mother said a Centennial counselor and long-time parental evaluator who worked as a court-appointed child’s therapist in a custody case was key in a systemwide failure that led to the death of her son. She said that…