Douglas County deputy facing excessive force charge after report by fellow deputy

DENVER (KDVR) — A Douglas County Sheriff's Office deputy was arrested and is facing charges after he was reported by a fellow officer for excessive force during a family disturbance call.

The call occurred on Sept. 29. Deputy Christopher Cardin, 55, and a "cover officer," responded to the family disturbance call when the cover officer saw Cardin using "what he believed to be excessive force." That's when the cover officer intervened and reported the matter to a supervisor.

Cardin has been placed on administrative leave without pay as the investigation progresses, and he is facing charges of:

All of the charges are misdemeanors. An arrest warrant for Cardin was issued Monday, and he subsequently turned himself in that same day. He was released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond.

Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said he was "deeply disturbed" by the incident.

"Let me be clear: this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in my agency. No one is above the law, and any officer who crosses the line will be held fully accountable, regardless of their badge or rank," Weekly said in a release. "We are entrusted with the safety and rights of the community, and when someone in uniform abuses that trust, it harms not only the victim but also the reputation of every officer who serves with honor."

Weekly applauded the cover officer for his "courage to intervene and stop this misconduct in its tracks."

"Our deputies are trained to intervene when they witness excessive force, and he did just that," Weekly said. "That kind of bravery takes character, and it demonstrates the professionalism and integrity that we demand from our deputies. Trust in law enforcement must be earned, and we will not let the actions of one undermine the dedication and honor of the many.”

Cardin is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 17 for a bond hearing, and again on Nov. 12 for a case review hearing.

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