Morrison police chief on paid administrative leave - Canyon Courier

Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli has been placed on involuntary, paid administrative leave, according to a Nov. 11 press release from Morrison Town Manager Mallory Nassau.

The change was effective Nov. 4, according to the release.

Nassau said the town will refrain from additional comment while the investigation continues. Vinelli did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday morning.

“We can’t provide much more on the reasoning for his leave,” Nassau said. “We hope to have more information soon. We definitely want to keep the community updated to the best of our ability.”

Morrison Police Commander John Manna has been named acting chief in Vinelli’s absence.

Morrison Mayor Chris Wolfe could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning. Town Trustee Paul Sutton said he could not comment on the issue.

Vinelli, former Deputy Police Chief at Florence Police Department, joined the town as its chief in February 2022 with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement.

Nassau said Vinelli’s suspension is not linked to the arrest of Morrison Police Sgt. Richard Norton. Norton was arrested by Longmont Police Oct. 3 on charges of domestic violence, child abuse and unlawful storage of a firearm. Those charges were tied to incidents involving his ex-wife and two children. Before joining Morrison’s police force, Norton was also tied to a federal lawsuit about the arrest of a disabled teenager, and the subject of an internal Broomfield PD sexual harassment investigation.

Norton, who joined Morrison Police in January 2023, was put on unpaid administrative leave after his arrest. Nassau said Tuesday his status with the town hasn’t changed.

Vinelli said in October he was aware of the Broomfield allegations when he hired him.

“We did our background check,” Vinelli said. “I was aware of his past police internal affairs investigation and didn’t find anything in it that would preclude me from hiring him.”

The police chief’s role in Morrison has seen several changes in the last few years.

Vinelli replaced former Morrison police chief Misty Siderfin, who resigned in October 2021 after only three months in the position, citing limited resources and officer vacancies.

Siderfin took the chief’s job in July 2021, after George Mumma — hired in October 2017 — resigned from the role in August 2020. The chief’s position was vacant for nearly a year after his departure, with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office stepping in to provide coverage.

Mumma made an unsuccessful run for a District 25 House seat earlier this month.