“BRIGHTON – A former Commerce City cop accused of staging his own shooting pleaded guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges Friday, attributing his scheme to mental health problems brought on by years of handling difficult cases.
Kevin J. Lord, 52, stood with his head down as he pleaded guilty to a felony count of tampering with evidence and a misdemeanor charge of false reporting in the wake of him shooting himself last Nov. 8 and reporting that he’d been attacked by a motorist after a traffic stop.
His ballistic vest stopped the bullet – and in the early days of the case was credited repeatedly with saving his life.
Lord’s report sparked a manhunt and led to numerous appeals to the public for information that could help solve the case.
After approving the plea deal, Adams County District Judge Robert Kiesnowski sentenced Lord to three years on probation and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation and perform 500 hours of community service. He’ll also be required to undergo any treatment that is recommended.
Lord could have faced up to three years in prison.
The deal with prosecutors led to the dismissal of a more serious felony, a count of attempting to influence a public official.
Lord called the episode the “hardest and most humiliating experience of my life” and apologized to fellow law officers and his family
What a hero huh?
And just think of the police response
That manhunt they talked about was probably massive
And just think of the fact that every case he has made before he was arrested
Still stands
What a hero
Deborah Lee Jarrett 