LOG LANE VILLAGE, Colo. — For nearly a year, a police officer in the tiny northeastern Colorado village of Log Lane was working with a badge and gun and pulling people over while she had her own felony case pending.
On Wednesday morning, Officer Dawn Fliszar pleaded guilty to two felony charges of theft and forgery after investigators accused her of pocketing more than $30,000 in vehicle inspection fees when she was an officer in the Town of Morrison.
On Thursday morning, Fliszar submitted a resignation letter to Log Lane Village.
The criminal case against her was investigated by the Colorado State Patrol and prosecuted in Arapahoe County.
Fliszar faces up to three years in prison and a $100,000 fine on each felony conviction. She’s expected to be sentenced in April and may be forced to pay restitution.
In October, 9NEWS first reported on Fliszar’s employment with the village and observed her in uniform and armed while in a patrol vehicle. Fliszar’s bond paperwork did not prohibit her from carrying a weapon at the time.
When reached over the phone Wednesday, before Fliszar's submitted a resignation letter, Log Lane Mayor Naomi Zuniga confirmed the village was aware of the guilty plea and said board members would discuss Fliszar’s employment on Wednesday night.
“She did well for the village and was respected here,” Zuniga said over the phone.
Zuniga declined an on-camera interview but admitted she was aware of Fliszar’s pending felony case when Fliszar was hired in March.
Zuniga wasn’t mayor at the time of Fliszar’s hiring, but she was on the village board. Zuniga said she was out of town when the board voted to hire Fliszar.
In October, 9NEWS reported Fliszar never disclosed her pending felony case and arrest on a job application to Log Lane Village.
The circumstance is highly unusual for most law enforcement agencies who don’t want officers working and enforcing the law while they are facing their own criminal cases.
For example, in the City of Denver, an officer charged with a felony would be immediately suspended without pay until their criminal case is resolved.
Under state law, the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (POST) will likely decertify Fliszar as a law enforcement officer because of her felony conviction.
9NEWS reported on how the POST board was powerless to suspend Fliszar’s certification pending her felony case because of current state law.
“POST board should have the ability to suspend that person so that person is not acting as a peace officer in the state of Colorado, potentially jeopardizing other criminal justice systems in place,” Tony Spurlock, who was vice chair of the board at the time, said.
If you have any information about this story or would like to send a news tip, you can contact jeremy@9news.com.
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