In a town of just 16 residents, losing one police sergeant is no small shake-up. The Town of Lakeside has fired Sgt. Howard Prince, after an internal audit, concluded he logged unauthorized overtime while also getting paid for off-duty security work. The dismissal, formalized in a Jan. 6 termination letter, followed a review of 2025 time records that raised fresh questions about how the tiny town tracks patrol hours. Prince has appealed the termination, and his attorney has said the alleged misconduct was tied to side effects from medical treatment.
Documents obtained under Colorado’s open-records law show Prince was scheduled to be on patrol on numerous days in 2025 while at the same time being paid $95 an hour to work private security at the town Walmart, according to CBS News Colorado. The schedules include several overlaps, including a February day when Prince was listed on the town roster from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and was also assigned at Walmart from 10 to 11 a.m. and again from 3 to 6 p.m.
Small Town, Big Retail Dollars
Lakeside is one of Colorado’s smallest municipalities by population, with the 2020 census counting just 16 residents. Yet a strip mall anchored by Walmart supplies outsized revenue for the town, CPR News reports. That financial footprint has made local government oversight far more consequential. The town has already faced legal trouble after a former police chief and town clerk were prosecuted over the sale of municipal vehicles, according to reporting by Denver7.
Internal Investigation Found Multiple Violations
In the Jan. 6 termination letter, Lakeside Police Chief Kenneth Fountain wrote that an internal affairs investigation substantiated that Prince “falsified time worked, received dual compensation from off-duty employers and the Town of Lakeside for the same time periods, and put down unauthorized overtime for compensation.” The letter, released to reporters, states that Prince “admitted putting down unauthorized overtime and stated you took it upon yourself to do so. You also stated that you did not know why you falsified your time,” according to CBS News Colorado. The internal investigation found violations of seven department policies, including truthfulness and lawful conduct, and town officials say they have asked an outside law-enforcement agency to review the case for potential criminal charges. Prince, who joined the department full-time in 2022, has filed an appeal, and his attorney has declined further comment to reporters.
How The Law Might Apply
If prosecutors decide to bring charges, the allegations of falsifying records, collecting pay for hours not worked, and abusing a public office could fall under Colorado statutes that govern official misconduct and related offenses. Colorado’s criminal code includes provisions for first- and second-degree official misconduct and other offenses that cover abuse of public duties. The statutory language and penalties are set out in the Colorado Revised Statutes. Whether the case turns into a criminal prosecution or remains an employment dispute will depend on the results of the independent review and any charging decisions by prosecutors…