Former Adams County Sheriff Barred From Law Enforcement After Forgery Sentence

DENVER (KDVR) — Rick Reigenborn, former Adams County Sheriff, will be barred from serving as a peace officer in Colorado during a sentencing hearing on Thursday, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

According to the agency, Reigenborn pleaded guilty on Thursday to one count of felony forgery, one count of second-degree forgery, and one count of first-degree official misconduct, all misdemeanors, and was sentenced. The plea was part of an arrangement proposed by the prosecution, which also required the former sheriff to send an apology letter to Adams County Sheriff’s Office workers and give up his state peace officer certification. In exchange, the prosecutors dismissed one charge and reduced two to misdemeanors.

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Reigenborn was also sentenced to 12 months in jail for felony forgery, with a concurrent 12-month sentence for misdemeanors. However, both sentences are delayed.

In September 2023, the Attorney General’s Office charged Reigenborn, former Adams County Undersheriff Thomas McLallen, and former Division Chief Michael Bethel with signing various training rosters for classes they did not attend and/or submitting training certificates to the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training. Their goal was to try to include the training in their 2021 yearly training hours.

The Attorney General’s Office stated that Colorado peace officers are required to take at least 24 hours of annual in-service training, including at least 12 hours of perishable skills training in arrest control, driving, and guns. AG Phil Weiser is also the chairman of the Colorado POST board. “We are committed to ensuring law enforcement integrity and that all officers receive the required training.

Former Sheriff Reigenborn failed to do so, undermining his professional responsibility and breaking the law,” Weiser said in a statement. “We are holding him accountable for these actions and sending a message that we take violations of training requirements very seriously.”

McLallen pled guilty and was punished in January for his involvement in the fraud. Bethel continues to face allegations of forgery, attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to conduct forgery, and conspiracy to attempt to influence a public servant. Bethel is set to appear in court on June 13.