Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli Placed on Administrative Leave

After being placed on administrative leave last week, Morrison Police Chief Bill Vinelli is under investigation by town officials. The details of the investigation have not been disclosed, with Town Manager Mallory Nassau releasing only a two-sentence news release confirming the investigation.

While the investigation is ongoing, the town has chosen to refrain from making any further comments on the matter, according to the news release from Morrison officials. In the meantime, Morrison Police Department Cmdr. Jon Manna has been appointed as the acting chief during Vinelli’s absence.

Vinelli took on the role of police chief in January 2022, following the resignation of the previous chief, Misty Siderfin, who cited a lack of resources and officer vacancies as reasons for stepping down after just three months on the job.

However, Vinelli’s tenure as chief has not been without controversy. In October, Morrison Sgt. Richard Norton was arrested on charges of domestic violence and child abuse in Longmont, prompting scrutiny of the police department’s hiring practices.

Prior to joining the Morrison Police Department, Norton was the subject of an internal sexual harassment investigation at the Broomfield Police Department. The investigation found that Norton had allegedly sent inappropriate and unwanted sexual messages to female coworkers, leading to his resignation while the case was still pending. A subsequent investigation report recommended his termination.

Despite knowledge of Norton’s troubled history, Vinelli defended his decision to hire him, stating that he did not find anything in the Broomfield investigation that would have prevented him from bringing Norton onto the force.

In addition to the internal investigation, Norton was also implicated in a lawsuit alleging that he had injured a 15-year-old girl with disabilities during an arrest.

While it remains unclear whether Vinelli’s suspension is directly related to Norton’s case, Town Manager Mallory Nassau has stated that the two issues are not connected. The investigation into Chief Vinelli is ongoing, and further details are expected to be released as the situation develops.