Chaffee Sheriff Finds Five Violations with Custer Sgt. Elliott

Sgt. Elliott accused of misconduct related to a high-profile murder trial

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office has completed an investigation into Custer County Sgt. Pete Elliott, finding five policy violations related to conduct, performance, and social media use. The violations stem from Elliott's involvement in a high-profile murder trial, where he allegedly used fake Facebook accounts to defame a witness. As a result, the judge has sanctioned Elliott, barring him from testifying and excluding any evidence he collected.

Why it matters

This investigation highlights issues of misconduct and integrity within law enforcement, especially when officers are involved in sensitive criminal cases. The sanctions against Sgt. Elliott could have significant implications for the ongoing murder trial, raising questions about the reliability of the investigation and the ability of the justice system to deliver a fair outcome.

The details

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office detective team completed their investigation into Custer County Sgt. Pete Elliott on January 20. The investigation, led by Detective Sgt. Robin Burgess, found five policy violations related to Elliott's conduct, performance, and social media use. These violations included bringing discredit to the office, discourteous or discriminatory treatment of the public or other officers, knowing or negligent violations of office policy, and speech or expression contrary to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.

  • The investigation was completed on January 20, 2026.
  • Chaffee Sheriff Andy Rohrich informed The Mail of the findings on February 5, 2026.
  • The jury trial in the People v. Hanme Clark murder case began two weeks ago in Cañon City and is ongoing.
  • On December 30, 2025, 11th Judicial District Court Judge Lauren Swan sanctioned Sgt. Elliott, barring him from testifying and excluding any evidence he collected.

The players

Andy Rohrich

The Chaffee County Sheriff.

Robin Burgess

A detective sergeant with the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office who led the investigation into Sgt. Elliott.

Pete Elliott

A sergeant with the Custer County Sheriff's Office who was investigated for misconduct related to a high-profile murder trial.

Hanme Clark

A 46-year-old man charged with the murder of three people in Westcliffe in November 2023. He has pleaded not guilty, alleging he was not the shooter.

Lauren Swan

The 11th Judicial District Court judge presiding over the People v. Hanme Clark murder trial.

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What they’re saying

“As with all internal investigations, Rohrich explained, the investigator provides the violations and recommendations, but it is up to Custer County whether to take any action.”

— Andy Rohrich, Chaffee County Sheriff (The Mail)

What’s next

The judge in the Hanme Clark murder trial will decide whether to allow any evidence or testimony from Sgt. Elliott, given the sanctions imposed due to the misconduct investigation.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and ethical conduct within law enforcement, especially when officers are involved in high-profile criminal investigations. The sanctions against Sgt. Elliott could have significant implications for the ongoing murder trial, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability in the justice system.