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Ouray police chief fired

Chief John Wood had been put on paid administrative leave in January, after his stepson and two others were charged in a sexual assault at his home.

OURAY, Colo — Ouray's police chief has been fired after multiple internal investigations and allegations that a rape happened at his house while he was asleep. 

Chief John Wood had been put on paid administrative leave in January, after his stepson and two others were charged in the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at a party at Wood's home. At the time, city leaders said Wood was on leave "pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings."

From January: Ouray police chief put on leave

In the months since, though, the city hired an independent investigator to look into multiple unrelated complaints involving Wood. 

In Wood's termination letter, Ouray city administrator Silas Clarke said that person conducted two investigations connected to three written complaints the city had received. 

"After considering all the facts and information before me, I have determined that you engaged in poor work performance, violations of state law and other actions inappropriate for the Chief of Police," the letter said. 

"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," the letter concluded. 

From January: Small-town Colorado newspapers stolen after running story about rape charges at police chief's house

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