The Denver Police Department is investigating the possible actions of a detective who may have left his police department car unlocked with two guns and at least one police badge inside -- all of which were stolen over the weekend.
Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman would not name the officer -- who is also considered a victim of a burglary.
9Wants to Know is not naming the officer at this time since he hasn’t been charged with a crime. He’s a veteran officer who has been on the force in 1977.
According to Lakewood Police Department spokesperson Steve Davis, a Denver police detective parked his police vehicle outside his Lakewood house on Dec. 10 after he arrived home about 1 a.m.
Davis said the DPD detective told Lakewood police investigators he originally locked his car but then went back to get a flashlight. The DPD detective told Lakewood PD he wasn’t certain he had locked his car after that, according to Davis.
DPD told 9Wants to Know the detective’s car was unmarked.
Davis told 9Wants to Know at about 7 a.m. the DPD detective discovered a department-issued 9mm Glock handgun missing, as well as his pump-action shot gun and his DPD detective badge. The police report Davis cited suggested a second badge was taken, but it’s not clear whether one was. It was clear that at least one badge was missing.
Davis said the report does not say if the guns were secured in any way inside the car.
A report provided by the Denver Police Department said the day after the Lakewood burglary, DPD officers arrested Samuel Walker, 20, who had a 9mm Glock handgun on him and a Denver Police Department badge. The report said the badge was taken in a Lakewood burglary.
Walker is being held for investigation of theft and unlawful possession of a weapon.
It’s not clear where the pump-action shot gun is.
Walker’s mug shot is not being released because of an on-going investigation.
DPD told 9Wants to Know an internal investigation is under way into the care and use of equipment. It falls under “Rough or careless handling of City, Departmental or outside agency property. Members shall use care in handling City, Department or outside agency property and shall report immediately any that is lost, damaged or in bad order,” per the language provided by DPD.
