In a move that has stirred some concern, the town of Walsenburg, Colorado has appointed a new police chief who is currently under investigation. Bill Vinelli, the former police chief of Morrison, has been selected as the top law enforcement officer for Walsenburg, despite the active probe into his previous conduct. According to The Denver Gazette, Vinelli was placed on leave in November amid an investigation launched by Morrison's administration concerning his management of the police force.
After eight years without a dedicated police department, relying on the Huerfano County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services, this appointment marks a significant change for Walsenburg. However, the investigation into Vinelli's past management practices might quickly put to rest any reservations about his appointment in Walsenburg. Morrison's Mayor, Chris Wolfe, disclosed the ongoing investigation last month, something the Walsenburg's city council was reportedly unaware of until approached by local media. As per KRDO13, an unnamed city council member expressed their surprise, highlighting a clear disconnect in the flow of critical information regarding Vinelli's candidacy.
The city claims to have made thorough background checks on all three finalists for the police chief position, yet Vinelli's ongoing investigation somehow was missed. "I think this is the right guy. This has to get cleared, but, we don't want to start out with a black mark on our, you know, we want to start out right?" said one city council member, as obtained by KRDO13. Joe Stillwell, the current interim city administrator who took part in the interview process for the chief candidates, admitted to KRDO13 to not knowing about Vinelli's investigation and insisted all candidates underwent a background check that showed no negative marks against Vinelli.
The choice to onboard Bill Vinelli comes as Walsenburg tries to rebuild its police department from the ground up, an effort Vinelli allegedly has experience with from his time in Morrison. Despite the ongoing investigation, officials involved in the hiring process have pointed to his previous experience as a significant deciding factor. The mayor has stated a preference to put the hiring on pause until the investigation concludes, which he anticipates will happen in the coming weeks, as reported by Denver7. Whether Vinelli's appointment will stand or be rescinded remains an open question as the community awaits the outcome of the Morrison investigation.
