advertisement

Police chief's start date could be delayed after shooting

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - A fatal officer-involved shooting could delay the start time for Fort Collins' top choice for its new police chief.

The Coloradoan reports Jeffrey Swoboda of Elgin, Illinois, is Fort Collins City Manager Darin Atteberry's top candidate for the role. But Swoboda says Elgin police shot and killed 34-year-old Elgin woman Decynthia Clements last week after a traffic stop ended with the woman reportedly wielding a knife.

Protesters have since gathered in front of the Elgin Police Department daily, citing that race may have played a role in the shooting.

The Illinois State Police is conducting an investigation into the shooting. While the state agency would prefer that Elgin hold off on releasing camera footage until the completion of the investigation, Swoboda says he plans to release hours of footage this week.

Atteberry wrote in an email that he and Swoboda have remained in communication throughout the process.

___

Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, http://www.coloradoan.com

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.