Grieving Colorado Mom Wants to Use Red Flag Law Against Cop
(Video may be disturbing to some viewers)
Colorado's "Red Flag" law is controversial as it is, but it just got a bit more so.
The law also is known as the Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO is designed to remove firearms from someone deemed unstable or a danger to themselves or others. The idea being that if they can remove firearms from an unstable element or circumstance it will keep the people safer.
But no one ever thought it would be used against the police department.
Susan Holmes has filed an "ERPO" against Colorado State University Police Department Corporal Phil Morris, who was responsible for the death of her son Jeremy in 2017.
Referring to the officer as "incompetent and violent, Holmes stated:
If this law is to be applied to Colorado citizens, then violent Colorado officers should be subject to the same law."
It's not an easy law to invoke, as its use is limited to law enforcement or family members who feel the individual is a danger to himself and others.
Morris shot Jeremy as he approached the officer with a knife. The officer felt his own life was in danger and so fired. He was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Larimer County D.A., however, another body cam video shot by one of the other officers has been withheld, despite Holmes' efforts to have it seen.
She was unsuccessful in suing the University over the incident but has written what she is calling the "Jeremy Holmes Act", which requests all body ca footage be released within five days of the incident.
Proponents and detractors of the bill alike are watching this case with great interest. At east four ERPO's have been filed since January 1. Only one so far has been dismissed.