Ouray police chief fired for “inappropriate” actions, poor performance

Ouray’s embattled police chief was fired Monday after six months on paid administrative leave because of his “poor work performance, violations of state law and other actions inappropriate for the Chief of Police,” according to city officials.

City leaders put Chief Jeff Wood on paid leave on Jan. 29, 11 days after the Ouray County Plaindealer first reported allegations that Wood’s stepson and two others raped a 17-year-old girl in his house while he was asleep upstairs.

In a termination letter dated Monday and first reported by the Plaindealer, Ouray City Administrator Silas Clarke described internal investigations into Wood, including complaints of police misconduct, not complying with state laws for body-worn cameras and inappropriate comments and actions.

“…I find you have engaged in misconduct and violations of policy and state law. I no longer trust you to comply with policy, let alone enforce it or lead by example, and I do not trust your judgment to lead the police department,” Clarke wrote.

Clarke confirmed Wood’s firing in an email Monday afternoon.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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