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Park County undersheriff resigns after shakeup

Posted at 1:14 PM, Apr 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-08 00:48:26-04

Park County announced a separation agreement with Undersheriff Monte Gore on Thursday. Gore officially submitted his resignation after commissioners signed off on the deal, including a $131,000 lump payout.

Sheriff Fred Wegenger talked with Denver7's Liz Gelardi on the phone later that day. Due to the agreement, he could not answer questions about the circumstances that led up to the resignation of his second-in-command. He defended the department's actions when deputies turned a search warrant that ended with the killing of one of their own.

Corporal Nate Carrigan was killed in the line of duty and two others wounded. Gore was put on paid administrative leave about a week after the February 24 shooting. Eight deputies were serving a high-risk eviction notice at the Bailey home of Martin Wirth.

At the time Sheriff Wegener told Denver7 that his office, "has disciplined two of its deputies for incidents related to the aftermath of a deputy’s shooting."

The separation agreement gives no indication about the reasons behind Gore's departure. He was unavailable for comment. The agreement includes a recommendation letter from the sheriff. It stipulates that the former undersheriff continue to receive county funded healthcare until October.

Sgt. Welles Tonjes also resigned following the incident.

The Park County Sheriff's Office sent the following statement regarding Gore's resignation: 

Park County wishes to announce that Undersheriff Monte Gore has resigned his employment with the Park County Sheriff's Office. The County wishes to thank Undersheriff Gore for his many years of service.

For the last fifteen years, Undersheriff Gore has served the County with distinction. During his tenure, the County awarded him three life savings medals, one Special Citation for Bravery, seven Sheriff's Commendations, one award from the Park County Advisory Committee for his contribution to fellow employees, and one Sheriff's Distinguished Service Medal for heroic acts. 

Undersheriff Gore has also been extremely active in the Park County Community. He is the current President of the Central Mountain Training Foundation, past President of the Foxtail Pines HOA, past President of the South Park Parks and Recreation District, past Vice President of the Park County 911 Board, and helped develop and build the County's public shooting range.

Recent press reports regarding the unfortunate on-duty death of Corporal Nate Carrigan have erroneously suggested that Undersheriff Gore and Sergeant Welles Tonjes were in some way implicated in Corporal Carrigan's death. The County wishes to clarify neither Undersheriff Gore nor Sergeant Tonjes were participants in the tactical.

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