Article Contributed on: 5/28/2007 9:26:03 AM
Information released last week 5/24, revealed how Commander Lori Moriarity of the Thornton Police Dept. and Aunt of Tyler Carron, one of the two Berthoud teens who lost their legs in a Jan. 15 automobile accident used her position to try to manipulate to the point of bullying if not for State Trooper Robert Nuse who is in charge of the investigation.
According to the CSP Cmdr. Moriarity asked to be involved in the investigation from the start. She held the camera for a video-taped re-enactment of the accident and went so far as to talking to witnesses after the fact, questioning the findings of the CSP and even wanted the phone number of the young lady unfortunate to have been the driver of the Land Cruiser, Michelle Berra, that ran into the back of the Isuzu Trooper the two boys and their dates were in.
Thornton Police Chief Jim Nursey stated that "Department policy prohibits officers from working on criminal cases that involved relatives as Suspects or Victims". Also that there would be an inquiry into the allegations.
Sounds like Chief Nursey was asleep at the wheel himself and is now backpeddeling to try and save face for himself and the Thornton Police Dept. How could a Chief not know one of his commanders was working with the State Patrol unless she had his blessing or the guy is totally removed and clueless to the going on's of the department.
Either way Cmdr. Moriaritys blunder and what appears like the Thornton Police Dept. Good ol Boy system was exposed and will surely blow up in their faces because of the severity of the incident.
One can't blame Family wanting to help Family, but you need to use your head about it. What should of been two Insurance Companies slugging it out in court will now include the integrity or lack of by the Thornton Police Depts. Chief and one of their Commanders.