Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and both are getting seriously thick inside the state’s emergency management office, where the director is accused of being a total dick to work for and drinking on the job.
The Denver Post broke the story and now John Frank over at Axios Denver has a follow-up report.
The guy that Gov. Polis relies on to keep a cool head when the state is literally on fire, dealing with a pandemic, and during active shooter situations has been suspended (twice).
The reports describe Mike Willis as a bully who berates staff, has issues with rage, and curses at colleagues.
Willis claims he’s just passionate about his job.
But here’s the worst of it:
A state employee in 2019 notified human resources that they believed Willis was intoxicated in the state’s Emergency Operations Center during the response to the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch — an allegation reported at the time to Willis’ supervisor Kevin Klein, the head of Colorado’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
But the state didn’t investigate the allegation in 2019. Klein only launched an inquiry this month after The Post began asking for records and conducting interviews. (Willis denied being inebriated that day and Klein concluded that the allegations were not sustained.)
Gov. Polis refuses to explain what in the Hell is going on or even acknowledge he’s aware there’s a problem.
Colorado is in the middle of wildfire season, the state’s emergency chief is under fire, and the governor can’t be bothered with accountability or transparency?
“Through a spokesperson, Polis declined to comment on Willis’ conduct.”
Once again, @jaredpolis shows no leadership or accountability.
Coloradans deserve a governor who will fire people for creating a hostile and toxic work environment. #copolitics https://t.co/PcnRTIEqVL
— The Colorado GOP (@cologop) July 26, 2022
Silence and stonewalling are not typical behaviors of a governor running for reelection.
But this is exactly what we should expect from an elected official of the Democrat persuasion who has never been held accountable for any of his actions by his constituents, or the media.