Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Officer Jim Torrez Being Investigated in Shooting Death

The Platteville police officer who is being investigated for his role in the shooting death of a 30-year-old man last month was fired from his previous job as Frederick Police Chief.

In 2006, Frederick's town administrator Derek Todd accused Jim Torrez, 50, of using town resources to run his personal firearms-training business, Tactical Skills Institute, according to a Longmont Times-Call article dated June 20, 2006.

Torrez was terminated on March 20, 2006.

In the article, Todd said he cited Torrez with 12 personnel policy violations. He said some of those were related to his business and some were not. Todd did not elaborate on the other citations.

Torrez had been with the Frederick Police Department since 1993, according to the article. In the article, Todd said, "Many of these violations have taken place for many years."

Torrez is now an officer with the Platteville Police Department.

On Jan. 24 of this year, Torrez shot and killed Matt Herrera in a mobile home park in Platteville.

The shooting occurred after a brief car chase. Torrez told police that Herrera tried to run him over with his car, but Herrera's fiancée, who witnessed the shooting, says Herrera did nothing to provoke Torrez.

The Weld County District Attorney has asked a grand jury to review the report and decide if charges against Torrez are warranted.

He is currently on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

No comments: