The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is identifying the deputies involved in the officer-involved shooting that occurred in the evening of March 23rd, 2019.
The three deputies who discharged a firearm during this incident are Sgt. Justin Bynum, Deputy Caleb Harper and Deputy Brandon Worley. Two deputies used their duty weapon and one deputy used a less-lethal weapon.
Sgt. Bynum is a 12-year veteran of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a member of the Street Crimes Unit, Western Colorado Drug Task Force, SWAT team, Critical Incident Response Team, Academy Instructor, and is currently a patrol Sergeant. Deputy Harper is an 8-year veteran of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, who has worked as a detentions and patrol deputy. He has been a member of the Shakedown Team, is a Defensive Tactics instructor and is a recipient of the Life Saving Award. Deputy Worley joined the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2018.
As per standard protocol for these type of incidents, Sgt. Bynum, Deputy Harper and Deputy Worley will remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation that takes place independently of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) investigation.
The officer-involved shooting remains under investigation by the Critical Incident Response Team. For the latest information about the CIRT investigation click here.
