We have all heard stories about people trying to bribe police officers to make allegations or a ticket ‘disappear.’ But what about when the tables turn and it is the officer who is doing the offering? That’s exactly what happened to a woman in another state. She alleged a city parking enforcement officer offered to “fix” her parking ticket if she would perform some sexual favors. While the parking officer was writing her a ticket, she told him she couldn’t pay it. That’s when he offered his solution, which the woman turned down and then reported him to the police. He is being charged with Bribery, a chargeable crime in Weld, Logan and Morgan County.
Making a Ticket Disappear: What is Bribery in Weld County?
It is important to note, because this happened in another state, the other state’s definition of Bribery is different. In Greeley, Evans, or Windsor, Colorado, bribery only deals with monetary benefits or enticements. In the state where this incident occurred, bribery involves any benefit, money or otherwise.
C.R.S. 18-8-302 defines Bribery as:
- A person offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity; or
- While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced.
In this case, the officer (a public servant) solicited a benefit with the understanding that he would not fulfill his duty and serve the ticket. Now, in Colorado, the addition of ‘pecuniary’ means that it needs to be a monetary benefit.
If you or a loved one has been given a summons or contacted by the Greeley police concerning any accusation of Bribery, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and call the experienced lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office at (970) 616-6009 to discuss your case. Together, we can protect you.
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