Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas cleared of wrongdoing in investigation

Three-member board continue to disagree

Haley Lena hlena@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Posted 12/5/22

During a recent press conference, Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas announced the results of a second investigation involving allegations of First Degree Official Misconduct.

The investigation was conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was ordered by commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal.

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Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas cleared of wrongdoing in investigation

Three-member board continue to disagree

Posted

During a recent press conference, Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas announced the results of a second investigation involving allegations of First Degree Official Misconduct.

The investigation was conducted by  the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation was ordered by commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal.

The allegations towards Thomas were based on the use and release of an anonymous letter sent to the Board of County Commissioners on April 29, 2019 and whether the information in the document was used in her 2022 campaign for Douglas County Sheriff. 

“My decision to hold this press conference, past experience has made it clear that Laydon and Teal were not interested in making the public aware of the status of yet another bogus investigation by them, particularly since it once again resulted in nothing but wasted government resources,” said Thomas. 

According to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Inter-Office Correspondence/Memorandum of Nov. 3, there was no probable cause to believe that the crime of C.R.S. 18-8-404, First Degree Official Misconduct was committed. 

Around June 21, 2022 Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock requested assistance from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office to conduct a criminal investigation into the allegations.

“The Colorado criminal code does not specifically prohibit a waiver of privileged and confidential information by a privilege holder. In this case, as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, Lora Thomas is a privilege holder,” Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bruce Peterson wrote in the memorandum..

In response, Laydon released a public statement concerning the press conference. 

“A gross misinterpretation of the law aside (our counsel has made it clear the privilege holder is the board, not the individual director contrary to the Arapahoe Sheriff’s Office statement),” said Laydon, “Lora Thomas defaming first responders using their personal identifying information and leaking a privileged document to the press is bad behavior and would not be tolerated on any board, including ours.” 

Thomas started the Nov. 30 press conference by showing a compilation video of Laydon and Teal claiming Thomas is a “cancer”, “divisive”, “unethical” and “hostile.”

“The purpose behind this brief video was not only to give a small sample of the hostility and antagonism with which I have had to consistently deal for the past 20 months, but to illustrate that Laydon’s recent rhetoric regarding ‘civility’ is just so much phony, insincere misdirection from his, Teal’s egregious conduct for the past several months,” said Thomas. 

Laydon also mentioned in his public statement that Thomas has not held herself with professionalism and civility. He ended his statement showing gratitude towards the policies the board has adopted, which have consequences when directors abuse their position.

The revised 2022 Board of County Commissioners Policy Manual states, “Commissioners shall support the maintenance of a positive, professional, and productive workplace environment at the county and inspire confidence in the functioning of county government,” and, “Commissioners shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner that is professional, respectful, courteous, and civil toward one another and those with whom they engage in their official capacity,” 

In regards to the Code of Conduct, Laydon said on the rare occasion, he is pointed in his commentary that aims to identify and fight against uncivil and divisive people.

“Which in my four years has only been one individual,” said Laydon referencing Thomas, “Even the most professional doctor won’t ignore a malignant tumor, the good gardener doesn’t let weeds persist.” 

Teal responded to Colorado Community Media saying, “To the best of my knowledge, I’ve never had a full investigation initiated against me, or have I had an HR complaint made against me in creating a hostile work environment, like what prompted the investigation against Commissioner Thomas.”  

To investigate a claim against a commissioner, there has to be a majority vote from the board. 

Moving forward, each county commissioner is determined to serve the residents of Douglas County. 

Thomas ended the press conference by saying she just wants to govern the people of Douglas County. 

Teal said that there is no one above the law in Douglas County.

“As long as I am on this board, we will conduct our county government in a way that is transparent and accountable to the people,” said Teal. 

The county continues to operate at an exceptional level, Laydon adding it is debt free, has a balanced budget, and is the healthiest county in the state .

County Commissioners

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