Tribune Op-ed. Work Not Done On Master's Case

With Tim Masters out of jail and an open murder again on the front burner for Fort Collins police, the real work on this breathtaking story in northern Colorado is just beginning: Now is the time to demand accountability from those who allowed this travesty of justice to unfold as it has, and to undertake concrete reforms to ensure it never happens again.

It's difficult for us in Greeley to comprehend how a man can be convicted of murder when no physical evidence at the scene links the suspect to the victim.

It seems clear to us that Fort Collins Police Lt. Jim Broderick, along with Larimer County Judges Terry Gilmore and Jolene Blair, should face serious scrutiny for their role in this embarrassing affair.

Larimer County District Attorney Larry Abrahamson should appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the overwhelming evidence that Broderick, Gilmore and Blair conspired to hide or manipulate evidence in order to ensure a conviction against Tim Masters.

If Abrahamson doesn't have the will to initiate an investigation, it should be launched by Don Quick, the Adams County DA and special prosecutor. If he can't muster the fortitude, it will be time to call on the governor.

The concept of "justice" in this matter is an embarrassment, and these are only the most immediate measures that regional law enforcement institutions must take as they embark on the long road toward regaining even an iota of their former credibility.

Greeley Tribune