Investigation Continues into Death of Former Deputy

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Deputy Lee submitted a letter of resignation, effective immediately, to the Sheriff’s Office. At the time of Deputy Lee’s resignation, the administrative investigation being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and the independent investigation being conducted by CBI had not been completed. Sheriff Sean Smith requested that a Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team member contact Lee on Thursday to check on his welfare. The team member made contact with Lee at 9:15p.m, and reportedly, the conversation went well and the men made arrangements to meet for lunch in the near

From the LaPlata County Sheriff's Office:

The Sheriff’s Office and many in our community are mourning the loss of Jeremiah Lee. Jeremiah was a member of the Sheriff’s Office for almost two years and served with the Durango Police Department for 18 years prior to that.  Jeremiah was assigned as a patrol deputy during his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office.

During the first week of October, Deputy Lee provided some information to the Sheriff’s Office about a personal situation in his life.  The information that Lee provided required the Sheriff’s Office to conduct an administrative investigation.  As is customary in situations involving personnel, the Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of another law enforcement agency to conduct an independent investigation.  The Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) agreed to assist the Sheriff’s Office with this investigation.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Deputy Lee submitted a letter of resignation, effective immediately, to the Sheriff’s Office. At the time of Deputy Lee’s resignation, the administrative investigation being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office and the independent investigation being conducted by CBI had not been completed.

Sheriff Sean Smith requested that a Sheriff’s Office Crisis Intervention Team member contact Lee on Thursday to check on his welfare. The team member made contact with Lee at 9:15p.m, and reportedly, the conversation went well and the men made arrangements to meet for lunch in the near future.  Shortly after midnight on Friday Oct. 13, Lee’s home on CR 516 was reported to be on fire and Lee was found inside the home and unresponsive.  As the CBI was already involved, Sheriff Smith requested that this agency take the lead in Lee’s death investigation as well.  This investigation is ongoing and CBI will release information when it is available.

Jeremiah Lee was a lifelong resident of La Plata County and will be deeply missed by all those that knew him.  Jeremiah was a father, a son, a brother, a friend, and a law enforcement officer that served his community for 20 years.