Former Adams County Sheriff Rick Reigenborn has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty in a Denver District Court for his involvement in a scheme to falsify law enforcement training records. The charges against Reigenborn include one count of felony forgery and two misdemeanors: second-degree forgery and first-degree official misconduct. He received a 12-month deferred sentence for the felony charge and a concurrent 12-month probation sentence for the misdemeanors.
As part of his plea agreement, Reigenborn will surrender his state peace officer certification, making him ineligible to serve as a peace officer in Colorado. Additionally, he is required to write an apology letter to the staff of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office.
Attorney General Phil Weiser emphasized the importance of integrity within law enforcement. "We are committed to ensuring law enforcement integrity and that all law enforcement officers engage in necessary training. Former Sheriff Reigenborn failed to do that, undermined his professional obligations, and broke the law. We are holding him accountable for these actions and sending a message that we take violations of training requirements very seriously," Weiser stated.
Colorado mandates its peace officers complete at least 24 hours of annual in-service training, which includes 12 hours focused on perishable skills such as arrest control, driving, and firearms handling. Agencies must report accurate data to Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). Non-compliance with POST rules can result in loss of grant funds.
The attorney general is authorized by state law C.R.S. 24-31-307(3) to enforce POST standards violations through criminal charges or fines if they are found intentional or knowing.
In related developments, former Adams County Undersheriff Thomas McLallen pleaded guilty earlier this year for his role in the fraud scheme. Meanwhile, former Division Chief Michael Bethel faces multiple charges including forgery and conspiracy-related offenses; his next court appearance is scheduled for June 13.
It should be noted that filing criminal charges is merely an accusation under Colorado laws, with all defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty.