Former chief and 2 other firefighters charged with forging training certification. Investigation impacts Colorado towns of Sheridan and Federal Heights.

dave statter — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:43:25 +0000

Three firefighters, including former Sheridan Fire Chief Ron Carter, are charged with felonies related to the forgery of firefighter training paperwork.

Carter, Sheridan Fire Captain Brian Ribble and Federal Heights firefighter Don Ogborn are charged with multiple felony counts of forgery, conspiracy and attempt to influence a public official.

The charges were filed by 18th Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers on Thursday.

Court documents indicate the men forged a practical examination for firefighters looking for “Driver Operator and Driver Pumper Certification” in November 2005.

The Colorado Fire Chiefs’ Association Web site lists Ribble as the training officer for the Sheridan fire department.

Calls to Carter, Ribble and Ogborn on Friday were not returned.

Sheridan City Manager A.J. Krieger did not return a call requesting comment.

The investigation was handled by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Division of Fire Safety.

CBI spokesman Lance Clem told 9Wants to Know Investigative Reporter Kyle Clark the probe is the result of increased enforcement actions by that division.

“The Division of Fire Safety is doing a lot more work these days into firefighter certification testing,” Clem said.

The criminal complaints accuse the firefighters of attempting to influence Tami Babylon and Teresa Staples.

Babylon is the certification manager for the Division of Fire Safety. Staples is its deputy director.

STATter911.com » Carol Chambers

Former chief and 2 other firefighters charged with forging training certification. Investigation impacts Colorado towns of Sheridan and Federal Heights.