Tom Clements Oversaw Thousands Of Inmates, Employees
DENVER (CBS4)- Slain Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Corrections Tom Clements oversaw thousands of inmates and employees and had an extensive career in the corrections field.
Clements, 58, overlooked the operations of about 20,000 prison inmates scattered through Colorado's prison system and he also supervised some 6,000 Dept. of Corrections employees.
Police said the deadly shooting took place after Clements opened the front door of his house at 17420 Colonial Park Drive in Monument at approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. A family member inside the home afterwards called 911 and apparently didn't see the shooter. The suspect remains at large.
Clements came to Colorado from the Missouri Department of Corrections where he spent more than three decades. He started his career as a parole and probation officer.
"We lured Tom away. He was far and away the best choice we could find anywhere in the country," said Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Since taking over the Colorado Dept. of Corrections in 2011 he was known as a demanding, data-driven boss but was generally well liked by employees.
However, since taking over, he had angered some veteran employees by having them reapply for their jobs.
VIDEO: Watch 3:30 p.m. News Conference By El Paso County Sheriff's Office Spokesman Lt. Jeff Kramer
Clements also had made some controversial decisions overseeing the closing of a prison in Fort Lyons which angered local residents.
He also denied a request last week by Saudi national Homaidan Al Turki who wanted to serve out the rest of his prison sentence in Saudi Arabia. Clements shut down Al Turki, citing the inmates' refusal to undergo sex offender treatment.
Clements is survived by his wife Lisa and two daughters.
