HomeMy WebLinkAbout20042877.tiff DICKSON & GRANT, LLC
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
821 9TH ST.,SUITE 101
GREELEY,COLORADO 80631
PHONE(970)356-5666
FAX(970)356-8967
JANET MEYER DICKSON CHARLES BROWN DICKSON
THOMAS DANIEL GRANT OP COUNSEL
KENT S.SPANOLER
September 20, 2004
Clerk to the Board
Board of County Commissioners
915 10th Street
PO Box 758
Greeley, CO 80631
NOTICE OF CLAIM
Re: Suit by Kristofer Walter
Dear Clerk to the Board and County Commissioners:
The purpose of this letter is to serve notice, pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes, § 24-
10-109,of the intent of Kristofer Walter, a resident of Weld County Colorado,whose address is
108 North 50s'Avenue, Greeley, Colorado,to file a suit against Weld County for improper
training resulting in physical injury while performing his duties.
Mr. Walter's suit stems from events that took place on or about March 23, 2004 at 8:46
a.m. at the Weld County Jail in the O Pod, 2110 O Street, Greeley, Colorado, where he was
employed by the Weld County Sheriff's Office as a Correctional Officer II. During an altercation
with inmate George Recio, Officer Walter's elbow snapped while he was restraining George
Recio. After Commander Salberg responded to a Code 5 (officer needs assistance)broadcast by
Officer Brown, Officer Walter went to the emergency room, where he subsequently underwent
surgery in which large screws were placed into his elbow.
Mr. Walter has resigned his position from the Weld County Sheriff's Office because he
believes he was not properly trained by the Weld County Sheriff's Office. Mr. Walter received
four weeks of training in how to handle inmates and self-defense prior to working at the jail; and
not the three or four months of training required by the Field Training Officer Program. Mr.
Walter had no prior law enforcement experience in Weld County, and this lack of training resulted
in his injury while restraining an inmate. Mr. Walter further believes that the Weld County Jail is a
dangerous place to work, not only because of the lack of training of its officers, but because of
the ratio of inmates to officers. One officer is in charge of 48 inmates in medium security and one
officer is in charge of 78 inmates in low security. Mr. Walter believes this is a dangerous
situation, and combined with improper training,resulted in his injuries.
0 ✓nmuNren-r,ouS 2004-2877
�� �� �� : cm I' 1 Plc
Clerk to the Board
September 20, 2004
Page 2
Although exact monetary damages are not yet known, at a minimum, Mr. Walter will seek
an amount of damages not less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars($100,000.00).
Mr. Walter has retained Dickson& Grant, LLC, to represent him in this matter and
therefore all correspondence or inquiries should be directed to undersigned counsel.
Sincerely,
DICKSON &GRANT, LLC
Thomas D. Grant
821 9th Street, Suite 101
Greeley, CO 80631
TDG:Y
cc: Mr. ICristofer Walter
Hello