Derek Colling resigns 31 months after killing Robbie Ramirez
The deputy’s resignation follows two others — that of former Sheriff Dave O’Malley, who hired Colling, and that of former County Prosecutor Peggy Trent, whose grand jury failed to indict him.
Derek Colling, who shot and killed Robbie Ramirez more than two years ago as an Albany County Sheriff’s Deputy, has resigned.
A grand jury failed to indict Colling — and he never faced any criminal charges for the killing — but since the shooting, the victim’s family and other community activists never let up in their pursuit of accountability.
The 2018 shooting was only the latest incident in Colling’s history of violence against civilians, and Ramirez’s death sparked calls for police reform, igniting a movement that inspired popular demonstration, a $20 million lawsuit, and the ouster of former Sheriff Dave O’Malley, the man who hired Colling.
Rep. Karlee Provenza (D-Laramie) is the executive director of Albany County for Proper Policing, or ACoPP, an organization she helped to launch in the wake of Ramirez’s death.
“I think Colling’s resignation is a huge step in the right direction and I feel like our community is safer because of it,” she said. “Not having him work in law enforcement — and knowing that he turned in his badge and his gun — brings a big sigh of relief.”
But Provenza adds the fight is not over. ACoPP, alongside Ramirez’s mother Debra Hinkel, is still pushing for Colling’s decertification.
“While Colling may have left his job here, unless he is decertified, he can seek employment in law enforcement somewhere else,” Provenza said. “So it’s imperative that he be decertified so that we don’t need to have this concern in another community, in Wyoming or elsewhere. Without decertification, there’s always a risk that he could get a job somewhere else.”
Many believed Colling should never have been hired in the first place.
Formerly with the Las Vegas Police Department, Colling was one of many officers involved in the shooting of a domestic violence suspect in 2006, and the sole officer who shot to death a 15-year-old boy with bipolar disorder in 2009. Both shootings were ruled justified but Colling was fired in 2011 after another violent incident, having beaten a bystander who was filming him.
Colling’s past was known when he was hired in 2012, and even hindered his ability to be hired elsewhere. The Laramie Police Department, to which he also applied, did not even finish the background check.
But at the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, O’Malley hired Colling despite this history, defending that hiring decision both before and after the Ramirez’ death. That decision would haunt the sheriff’s final term, tarnishing his legacy as a progressive police reformer.
O’Malley resigned in November 2020 and was replaced, via an appointment process, by current Sheriff Aaron Appelhans.
Appelhans would not comment on Colling’s resignation. Nor would he comment on if the resignation would make the community feel safer or improve the relationship between the community and law enforcement.
“The community is going to have to make their own decision on how they feel regarding the resignation,” Appelhans said. “What I can say is that our office is always striving to provide good law enforcement, and care for our community, in an empathetic way. We always want our community to feel safe with our department in every situation.”
Appelhans added that his office follows all peace officer standards and training, and incorporates “best practices when evaluating potential new hires.”
Provenza says Appelhans deserve credit for the changes made to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office since the start of his tenure. But she adds that the safety of the community and the accountability of law enforcement should not depend on one elected official.
“We need to have a structure in place that ensures that people like Colling do not have jobs in this state, and are not responsible for the safety of people in our communities,” Provenza said. “We don’t have a great structure of accountability. We don’t have community oversight boards in a meaningful way. We need to see community oversight; we need to see transparency and more access to records.”
Colling is possibly the third resignation linked to the 2018 shooting, following O’Malley’s ouster last year and the resignation of former County and Prosecuting Attorney Peggy Trent last month.
Shortly after the shooting, Trent convened a grand jury to consider bringing a manslaughter charge against Colling. Trent faced criticism for deciding on a grand jury, rather than bringing in a special prosecutor, given her dual roles.
The County and Prosecuting Attorney both serves as the county’s legal counsel (representing the sheriff among other elected officials) and prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the state (or decides if charges should even be brought).
Hinkel, Ramirez’s mother, has brought a wrongful death claim against the county, alleging that Trent’s witnesses were biased and that the decision to convene a grand jury, which meets behind closed doors, served to protect county officials.
Trent resigned in May. She said the criticism she received about the grand jury did not influence her decision to resign. Her appointed replacement said during a public forum that he would bring in a special prosecutor when county and prosecutor responsibilities conflict.
Provenza said that while Albany County rightfully celebrates Colling’s resignation, there is still work to be done.
“Justice for Robbie isn’t just holding Colling accountable,” she said. “What justice for Robbie would be is a change in policy so that we don’t have to do this again. I don’t want to have to fight for justice for someone else’s child.”
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