A Morrison Police officer is facing criminal charges after allegedly using his handcuffs on his children, cinching them “tight enough to cause pinch marks on their wrists.”
According to an arrest affidavit, which was heavily redacted, Richard Norton was also accused of telling his children that he would break into his ex-wife’s home “to kill her and her husband” and that “he wanted to murder someone so he could see what it felt like.”
According to court documents, Norton appeared before a judge on November 4 on charges of child abuse and unauthorized firearm storage.
Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli told 9NEWS Investigates on Friday that he placed Norton on unpaid leave “about a week ago,” but declined to elaborate.
Norton had previously worked as a Broomfield Police officer, but resigned in 2022 after an internal inquiry revealed that he had broken five distinct department standards. The investigation determined that he “sent inappropriate and unwanted sexual messages to four of your female coworkers” and that his “actions created an intimidating, hostile, and offensive working environment.”
The chief of Broomfield Police informed Norton that he would be fired. Norton quit before that occurred.
Due to these circumstances, Vinelli was compelled to justify his hire to the Colorado Peace Officers Standards and Training Board, which certifies law officers in the state.
“The Morrison Police Department feels that the information we have gathered does not preclude him from being a good fit as an officer for our department,” Vinelli wrote.