CU police sergeant pleads guilty in stalking

A University of Colorado police officer accused of stalking a Boulder campus dispatcher pleaded guilty to first-degree official misconduct on Monday.

Sgt. Michael Dodson, 60, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 100 hours of community service as part of the deal, according to Catherine Olguin, spokeswoman for the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.

Dodson had been scheduled to stand trial next month on one count of felony stalking, but that charge was dismissed as part of the plea deal and his trial was canceled.

CU officials did not immediately address questions from the Daily Camera about Dodson’s status with the police department on Monday. Dodson had been on unpaid administrative leave.

According to an arrest affidavit, the victim in the case began working as a dispatcher at the beginning of 2017 and said Dodson initially told her he wanted to help mentor her on the job. But the woman, who is married, said Dodson, also married, soon began telling her he was attracted to her, that he felt “vibes” between them and that his “soul was drawn” to her.

Dodson began communicating with the woman by email and text, created a “secret handshake” as an excuse to touch her and commented on her looks, according to the affidavit. He also on several occasions hugged her, kissed her on the head or gave her massages, according to the affidavit.

In February 2017, the woman said Dodson increased the amount of email he sent her and also texted her throughout her shift.

The woman reported the situation to her supervisor on March 5, 2017. Dodson was arrested three months later.