Police Chief In Platteville Resigns, Faces Embezzlement Charges
PLATTEVILLE, Colo. (CBS4) - The police chief of Platteville in Weld County has resigned and is now facing embezzlement and identity theft charges.
Scottie Smith is accused of using department fuel cards to fill up his personal vehicle. Smith was the person in charge of keeping records of squad car gas use. Officers in his own department became suspicious and turned him in.
Court records indicate he admitted doing it about 10 to 12 times, but a report found 14 instances with purchases totaling $392.40.
Smith claimed he had permission from two town trustees, but they denied any knowledge of that, according to the affidavit.
Some residents of the town with less than 2,700 people were not shocked at the allegations.
"I really think that the chief is doing what Congress is doing; is ripping the people off," a resident said.
"To use the taxpayers' money to fill up their own cars for gas use; all they do is drive up and down the streets. I can sit here. There's nothing in this town," another resident said.
Smith is also accused of stealing fellow officers' Social Security numbers in order to get the fuel codes.
Earlier this year Platteville officer Caleb Hughes was charged with a felony after a fight with a gas station attendant while off duty.
"I would think that he would know better. You know he is the law. He knows that that's assault," a resident said.
Last year a Platteville officer shot a man to death who tried to run him down in his car. No charges were filed in that case.
Smith turned himself in and has been released on bond.
