Disciplinary Actions and Departmental Response
Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell announced significant disciplinary measures following the completion of an internal investigation. Zwinck received three weeks of unpaid leave, while Olson was suspended for two weeks without pay. Both deputies were immediately removed from their drug task force assignments.
The disciplinary actions extended beyond the two primary deputies involved. Two supervisors also faced consequences, with one receiving a two-day unpaid suspension and another receiving a formal letter of reprimand. A third supervisor underwent counseling as part of the department’s response to the violations.
According to investigation documents released by the sheriff’s office, both deputies had received and acknowledged emails prior to the new law’s passage that outlined existing limitations on cooperation with federal immigration officials. The most recent communication, sent on January 30, 2025, explicitly instructed officers not to contact Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after a federal official had requested such cooperation during a law enforcement meeting.
