GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) has placed a corporal on leave due to allegations of embezzling funds from a local non-profit organization.

Corporal Trisha Worley, a GCSO member for 14 years, was initially placed on paid administrative leave; but as a result of an internal affairs administrative investigation, Worley was fired from the department.

Sheriff Lou Vallario stated the following in a press release: “I firmly believe that the people we serve hold law enforcement officers to a higher standard. If we cannot control ourselves, how can the community trust our ability to control them? As such, I expect and support a rigorous and thorough criminal investigation. However, it is equally important to remember that everyone in this country has constitutional rights, regardless of their profession, and is innocent until proven guilty.”

The criminal investigation is being conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to avoid conflicts of interest within GCSO.

The case is in the early stages of development, this is all the information available at this time.

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