Former o∞ cer faces 3 charges

Commerce City cop is accused of groping three women during separate traffic stops.

brighton » Former Commerce City police Officer John Reinhart faces three misdemeanor counts of unlawful sexual contact.

At a news conference Monday, 17th Judicial District Attorney Dave Young announced the charges and said the investigation began after a September traffic stop when a woman reported the officer illegally touched her during an arrest.

“We initiated an audit of all events the officer was involved in,” Young said.

The audit reviewed 2,500 cases involving Reinhart and turned up two additional women who made similar allegations against him.

Court records show all three traffic stops happened between 1: 30 a. m. and 4: 15 a. m.

Reinhart is charged with three counts of unlawful sexual contact concerning three different victims during traffic stops.

Each count carries a sentence range of six months to two years in the county jail, and a fine of $ 500 to $ 5,000, Young said.

The city put Reinhart on administrative leave Feb. 17, and he resigned fromthe police department Friday. He is scheduled to appear in court May 5.

Commerce City Police Chief Troy Smith praised the woman who reported Reinhart. “Without her having the courage to come forward, we probably neverwould have learned about the other contacts,” he said.

“I’m very disappointed to learn that a former employee of my organization is accused of violating the law,” Smith said. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about Reinhart is asked to call the Colorado Bureau of Investigation tip line at 303- 239- 4611.