A week after being placed on administrative leave for an undisclosed personnel matter, Mancos Marshal John Cox faces charges for driving under the influence of alcohol, careless driving, and driving without proof of insurance, following a single-vehicle crash on Nov. 10 in La Plata County.
Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll confirmed that State Patrol officers responded at 11:12 p.m. on Nov. 10 to a single-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 160 near the Cherry Creek exit at mile marker post 65.
Responding State Patrol officers identified the driver of the vehicle in question as Cox, who was off duty and traveling in a personal vehicle.
“Following the crash, officers determined that Cox was under the influence of alcohol, and he did submit to a chemical test,” Driscoll said.
He declined to provide the results of the test, but said Cox was not booked in the La Plata County jail, and was released to a sober party.
The town of Mancos on Friday scheduled a special, closed-door meeting of the Town Board to discuss a personnel issue and possible actions relating to that discussion. That meeting is at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16.
A week before the DUI incident, on Nov. 4, Cox was placed on paid administrative leave for an undisclosed personnel matter by the Mancos Board of Trustees.
Town Administrator Andrea Phillips declined to provide specifics on the personnel matter that led to the decision, but she said the town will be adequately covered from a public safety standpoint in the interim.
The town’s two deputy marshals, Yvonne McClellan and Jason Spruell, are now reporting to Phillips, Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office is providing backup coverage, and all of Cox’s equipment has been collected to ensure he is not acting as an officer.
Cox was hired as a deputy marshal in August 2012 and promoted in April 2013 after former Marshal Bill Knauer took a police chief job in Indiana.
In Cox’s personnel records obtained by The Journal, Cox received glowing remarks on his most recent annual review, conducted in August 2015. Given a 9.2 out of 10 by Phillips, Cox was described as “respectful, courteous, and professional.”
“He presents a positive image to the general public. He would like to be faster in his response time when dealing with citizen complaints. He has a good relationship with businesses, the board, staff and the school,” Phillips wrote.
Mancos Town Board of Trustees and Phillips released a collective statement on Cox’s most recent charges.
“We are saddened to hear the news of this incident with Marshal Cox. He was placed on administrative leave last Thursday for a personnel matter. The Board will evaluate this and discuss it at a Special Meeting on Monday the 16th at 7:00 p.m.,” the statement read.
