Veteran lawman Cliff Smart was the applicant selected to fill the full-time vacancy on the Las Animas Police Department.
Milton Gribble was appointed to the part-time position previously held by Smart.
Smart previously served as the under sheriff in Bent County. He has also served as a police officer in Julesburg and Commerce City.
Regarding his stint in Commerce City, a suburb of Denver, Smart commented:
“You learn a lot quickly. You come out of there experienced in just a short while.”
Smart has lived in Bent County for 14 years.
“After two and a half years, it is good to be full time, especially with the economy and all,” Smart said.
The appointments of Smart and Gribble were announced at last week’s monthly city council meeting by Police Chief Don Trujillo.
In the police chief’s monthly report, criminal mischief was the second leading category, with seven incidents. Topping the list were the eight thefts investigated during the month.
In all, 44 cases were filed during January, There were six incidents of harassment, four traffic accidents, two cases of trespass, one fraud by check, two disorderly conduct incidents and three assaults, among the case categories.
During the month 12 summonses were issued for county court; eight for city court and 12 adult cases were filed with the district attorney for possible further action.
A juvenile was also referred to the district attorney for possible charges.
Ten burn permits were issued during the month.
Trujillo aid Las Animas School District cooperated in the dissemination of a letter to parents warning them that the Internet and cell phones can place local children at risk for harm or abuse.
Trujillo told the council his department investigated an incident that an 11-year-old girl had been text messaging to a 17-yar-old in Ohio and the situation was inappropriate.
He said there is a possibility other children are also involved in the case.
“Pictures of nude, semi-nue and identifying information of children as young as nine years old was sent to individuals via the Internet,” stated the letter from Trujillo that was sent to Las Animas parents, student and teachers by the school.
