Former Erie police officer pleads guilty to forgery, sentenced to two years probation
Nov. 8—A former Erie police officer who was accused of lying and forging military documents has taken a plea deal and was sentenced to two years of probation and 150 hours of community service.
Joseph Watts-Johnson, 36, pleaded guilty Oct. 3 to forgery, a Class 5 felony, according to Boulder County District Attorney spokesperson Shannon Carbone. Those with felony convictions are disqualified from holding a law enforcement position in Colorado, and his name will be added to the state database maintained by the Attorney General's Office, Carbone wrote in an email.
"In order to maintain the trust and support of the community, it is imperative that members of law enforcement act with integrity," Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in an email. "I want to recognize the leadership of the Erie Police Department for pursuing this issue of dishonesty and bringing it to the immediate attention of our office."
According to an affidavit, Watts-Johnson applied to the Erie Police Department in 2021. During a final interview in December 2021, Watts-Johnson said that he served in the military and completed ranger school as well as airborne and air assault schools.
But in January 2022, Erie police Chief Kim Stewart reviewed Watts-Johnson's DD 214, which documents military service history, and she saw there was no information on his form about being a part of the Army Rangers, Airborne or the Air Assault Division.
When asked about the discrepancy, Watts-Johnson said his ex-wife had destroyed his documents but that he would get the necessary forms backing his statements.
In June 2022, Watts-Johnson had yet to provide the documents even as he had graduated training and was working as a solo officer. Command staff requested he bring in the forms prior to June 28.
On June 28, 2022, Watts-Johnson provided a new DD214 form that had additions. But police noticed editing mistakes that made them question the legitimacy of the document.
Erie police contacted the U.S. Army and requested Watts-Johnson's documents, which reflected the original form Watts-Johnson turned in and not the supposedly updated form. The Army said a separate form would need to be filed to update a DD214, and said no such form had been filed for Watts-Johnson.
Erie police turned the case over to the Boulder County District Attorney's Office for investigation on July 7, 2022, and Watts-Johnson was placed on paid leave pending an internal investigation on July 8, 2022.
In an interview with investigators on July 12, 2022, Watts-Johnson said he used a friend's resume template to apply, but then realized that led to some errors. He then admitted to forging the military forms.
Watts-Johnson was fired by Erie police on July 13, 2022, after the internal investigation.
