Jim Beicker recall, Fremont County, Colorado (2017)
| Fremont County Sheriff recall |
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| Recall status |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2017 Recalls in Colorado Colorado recall laws Sheriff recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Jim Beicker in Fremont County, Colorado, from his position as sheriff was launched in April 2017. The recall did not go to a vote because recall proponents did not collect enough signatures for the petition by the deadline.[1]
A committee called the Fremont Freedom Fighters initiated the recall, citing three issues involving the sheriff's office: the placement of three officers on administrative leave, the death of an inmate at the Fremont County jail which resulted in a civil lawsuit, and a judge's ruling that the sheriff's office's confiscation of 63 horses from a property was overbroad.[2]
Beicker, a Republican, began serving as sheriff in 2003, and ran unopposed for re-election in 2014.
Recall supporters
Three members of the Fremont Freedom Fighters—Rick Ratzlaff, Debi Weger, and Penny Gingerich— were involved in the incidents cited in the recall petition.
Ratzlaff bought a storage unit owned by Lt. Robert Dodd and discovered that it contained evidence related to a 2006 murder case. Dodd, who had been on administrative leave for 112 days, then resigned. "When I saw them doing nothing about all the officers besides putting them on a paid vacation, I figured it was time to do something about it," said Ratzlaff.[3]
Weger was falsely arrested for DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) in November 2016. Arresting officer Sgt. Arin Hart was placed on administrative leave. Gingerich was charged with animal cruelty and 63 horses were confiscated from her ranch. The judge ordered that 24 of the horses be returned and said that the seizure was too broad.[2]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Colorado
The Fremont County elections clerk approved the petition of circulation for the recall on April 27, 2017. Recall proponents had until June 26, 2017, to collect 4,166 valid signatures. According to an article in The Pueblo Chieftain, about 600 signatures had been collected as of June 23, 2017.[1]
Recent news
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See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Pueblo Chieftain, "Fremont County sheriff's recall drive to fall well shy of signatures," June 23, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Pueblo Chieftain, "Effort to recall Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker approved," April 27, 2017
- ↑ News Channel 13 ABC, "Petition circulating to recall Fremont County Sheriff," April 28, 2017
