4th Denver Officer Resigns During Internal Investigation
DENVER (CBS4) - For the fourth time in recent weeks, a Denver police officer has resigned in the face of an internal affairs investigation into suspected inappropriate conduct.
CBS4 has learned that Patrol Officer Michael A. Samuels, who had been with the department since 2006, resigned last Friday as the department was investigating his conduct since he suffered injuries during an on-duty car accident.
"It is what it is," said Samuels, when reached by phone Tuesday by CBS4. "That part of my life is behind me."
Samuels said he suffered back and head injuries following a line-of-duty car wreck about a year ago. He said that while he was unable to work as a police officer and was receiving workers compensation payments, authorities had a private investigator follow him and document his activities.
"They saw what they saw," said Samuels. He said authorities accused him of working another job while simultaneously collecting workers compensation payments.
Samuels disputes the cities' contention that he was receiving income from a second job while collecting workers comp.
The District 4 officer said he believed the internal affairs investigation would have ultimately led to his dismissal. Samuels said he was pleased with his decision to resign as it will allow him to spend more time with his family.
"I'm extremely happy," he told CBS4. As for the Denver Police Department, he said, "It's not a bad department at all."
"We received an allegation of improper procedure that was very serious in nature," said Denver police spokesman Lt. Matt Murray, confirming the internal affairs investigation that led to Samuels' resignation.
"The officer voluntarily chose to separate from the agency," said Murray.
Three other officers under investigation also resigned recently. Lt. Tim Rusk retired following a DUI arrest, Officer Jairon Katz resigned as he was being investigated for having sex in a patrol car and Officer Scott Kida resigned during an internal affairs investigation of inappropriate conduct in dealing with a female victim in a domestic violence incident.
- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com
