All 'out in open,' says rejected official

Ritter not talking about rescinded position to Olson

Jerd Smith And April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 26, 2007 at midnight

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Gov. Bill Ritter and his staff knew of some of Christopher Olson's previous legal problems before they finalized his six-figure contract as director of emergency management, Olson and his former boss said Wednesday.

"I was up front about everything. Everything was out in the open," Olson said, referring to a 911 domestic violence call to his home in 2005 after he and his wife argued, and a $354,300 legal settlement Englewood agreed to after Olson fired a female police officer.

No action was taken after the 911 call, but the state civil rights division later ruled that the firing of the female officer was likely discriminatory.

Olson said all of these issues were known to Ritter before his contract was signed. The contract called for Olson to start July 30, but Ritter rescinded the job offer Monday.

"The only reason (I was fired) is because it's coming out in the papers," Olson said referring to his legal problems. "My career is ruined."

Evan Dreyer, spokesman for Ritter's office, declined to discuss how much Ritter knew before offering Olson the job, citing the confidentiality of personnel matters.

Olson worked for the city of Englewood for more than 30 years, most recently overseeing the police and fire departments.

Englewood City Manager Gary Sears, Olson's former boss, said Wednesday that he had talked to Susan Kirkpatrick, head of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, in June and gave Olson a positive job recommendation while notifying her of the court settlement.

But Sears said he wasn't aware of the 911 call to Olson's home and did not discuss that with Kirkpatrick.

"I did have a general conversation with Susan Kirkpatrick," Sears said.

Kirkpatrick participated in the panel that selected Olson, sources familiar with the process said. She signed his $123,336-a-year contract June 29.

Kirkpatrick's spokeswoman, Linda Rice, declined to comment Wednesday and referred all inquiries to the governor's office.

Jeff Wells, former executive director of Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration, said that Olson may have a good case for a lawsuit. Wells said Olson's one-year Senior Executive Service contract normally could be terminated only when it expires.

"A regular state employee cannot be terminated without cause," said Wells, who served under former Gov. Bill Owens and now heads administrative services for Clark County, Nev.

Wells said that if Ritter chooses to rescind the contract before the year is out, he must have legal cause - such as a candidate falsifying the job application or performing poorly.

Wells and others familiar with the process said that potentially embarrassing issues likely would have cropped up during the lengthy selection and interview process.

For a position such as emergency management, a panel screens candidates and then presents a list of three names to the governor and the head of Local Affairs. The State Patrol typically conducts a criminal background check of top candidates.

The administration also conducts its own interviews.

Sen. John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, a former police chief and friend of Olson, said he sympathizes with both Olson and Ritter.

Rep. Cory Gardner, R- Yuma, characterized the Olson ordeal as a major misstep by the Ritter administration and called on the governor to explain himself.

"It's the people of Colorado who will be on the hook to pay out his $123,000 contract," Gardner said.

Olson has said he plans to appeal his firing to the State Personnel Board.

Earl Peterson, executive director of the Denver Civil Service Commission, where Olson served for about 10 years, blasted the governor's office for the way it treated Olson.

"If they had done the due diligence and they hadn't offered him the job, he would have still been working in Englewood," Peterson said Wednesday. "But because they screwed up, it cost a man his career. It's unacceptable."

smithj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5474. Staff writers Daniel Chacon and Burt Hubbard contributed to this report.

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