The Johnstown Police Department has acknowledged that its established procedures were not followed in handling an incident involving a former police sergeant who reported for duty intoxicated in May. In an October 14 press release, the department confirmed that an outside law enforcement agency should have conducted an independent investigation and that prosecutors were not notified within the expected timeframe.
The acknowledgment comes as the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office continues a criminal investigation into the conduct of former Sgt. William Ward, who was terminated July 20 following an internal disciplinary investigation.
Department Acknowledges Failure to Follow Policy
In its October 14 statement, the Johnstown Police Department acknowledged that notification to the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office did not occur within the expected timeframe. The department also confirmed that its policy required an outside law enforcement agency to lead an independent investigation of the incident.
The department attributed earlier decisions to an unidentified former employee who is no longer with the organization. According to the release, those actions did not follow department policy.
The statement did not identify the former employee, explain which specific decisions that individual made, or provide the policy number governing outside investigations. The department said current leadership is taking steps to address the concerns and strengthen accountability, but it did not identify specific corrective measures or provide a timeline for their implementation.
Investigation Began After Prosecutors Learned of Incident
As Johnstown Republic reported October 8, Larimer County District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin initiated an investigation after learning that Ward’s May 28 incident occurred at a Johnstown Police Department substation within Larimer County.
According to an October 7 investigation by 9NEWS, Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke contacted McLaughlin on October 5 to clarify where the incident occurred. McLaughlin said his office had previously been aware that a Johnstown officer had been terminated but did not learn until October 5 that the incident occurred within Larimer County’s jurisdiction.
McLaughlin criticized the delay, saying Johnstown Police should have contacted prosecutors or requested an outside investigation when the incident occurred. He subsequently requested the department’s investigative records and contacted commanders of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT).
In an October 8 email to Johnstown Republic, Kylie Massman, communications and community engagement specialist for the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office, confirmed that Fort Collins Police Services would lead the investigation through CIRT. The district attorney’s office also said investigators would examine why the incident had not previously been reported to prosecutors.
Background: Former Sergeant Terminated in July
Ward was terminated July 20 following an internal investigation into his conduct on May 28. According to the department’s disciplinary action report, Ward arrived for duty shortly after 6 a.m. in full uniform, carrying his firearm and operating a town-owned police vehicle.
Officers under his supervision suspected he was intoxicated. A preliminary breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.107, and subsequent testing documented additional alcohol readings. Ward acknowledged consuming approximately 15 alcoholic drinks the previous evening.
The department sustained allegations that Ward violated policies concerning reporting for duty while intoxicated or impaired and operating a town-owned vehicle while impaired. Those findings resulted in his termination, but the disciplinary action did not establish whether criminal offenses had occurred.
Town Says Current Leadership Is Addressing Concerns
The October 14 release states that the department is cooperating fully with the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office as the criminal investigation continues. The department said it would not comment on potential criminal charges, investigative findings, or other matters that could compromise the investigation.
The acknowledgment that department policy was not followed raises additional questions about the administrative handling of the incident, separate from whether Ward committed any criminal offenses. Among the unresolved issues are who made the decisions concerning an outside investigation, why prosecutors were not contacted sooner, and what actions current leadership has taken to address the identified problems.
Johnstown Republic Seeks Additional Clarification
Johnstown Republic has contacted Johnstown Communications Manager Samantha Knowlton seeking clarification about the October 14 statement, including the identity and position of the former employee referenced in the release, the specific decisions that did not comply with policy, and the investigative procedures in effect when the incident occurred.
The publication has also requested clarification about police leadership during the period in question, who oversaw the Ward matter following changes in department leadership, and what corrective measures have been implemented or are planned.
The department has not publicly identified the former employee referenced in its statement, leaving unanswered who made the decisions and what responsibilities that individual held at the time.
The Larimer County criminal investigation remains ongoing. The district attorney’s office previously confirmed to Johnstown Republic that no criminal charges had been filed as of October 8 and that findings and charging decisions would be shared following the investigation’s completion.
Johnstown Republic will update this report as additional information becomes available, including any clarification provided by the Town.
A response to Johnstown Republic’s follow-up questions had not been received as of publication.
