Jan. 24--The police and security department at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo has a new chief: longtime Deputy Chief Tony Pinelle.
Pinelle has served as interim chief since former chief Lee Smith was placed on administrative leave last May following allegations of improper conduct. Smith took an early retirement in June and the state's Department of Human Services, which runs the hospital, still hasn't said if there was any wrongdoing.
Pinelle is a native Puebloan, graduating from South High School in 1975. Soon after high school, he worked at the State Home and Training School for the developmentally disabled. He remained a psychiatric technician there and when the program moved to a campus in Pueblo West.
In 1983, he tested for a law enforcement position at the state hospital and was hired.
Pinelle said he had always wanted to go into law enforcement, inspired by his uncle, John Pugliano, who had a long career as the hospital's deputy chief of public safety.
Pinelle worked his way up through the CMHIP public safety department, rising to deputy chief in 1994.
The department has about 70 people, including police and correctional officers who watch over the patients confined to the hospital.
The CMHIP police officers "do everything a law enforcement agency does," Pinelle said, including patrols, investigations and traffic control.
Crimes could involve patients, the more than 1,000 employees, visitors or motorists who simply drive through the campus, Pinelle said.
Neither Pinelle nor Eunice Wolthers, a hospital spokeswoman who sat in on Pinelle's interview, would say how many assaults have been investigated involving patients against other patients or staff members.
Wolthers said it varies depending on how combative particular patients are. In some weeks, there are no assaults at all, she said.
Pinelle's department investigates those and other suspected crimes, and determines if they should be referred for prosecution.
His department also includes the hospital's transportation and mailroom operations.
Pinelle said he doesn't have any big changes in mind for the department.
"We're not really going to make any big changes except to strive for improvement as opportunities are presented," he said.
Pinelle said his favorite part of the job is the people with whom he gets to work.
"It's a good department," he said. "We have some good people who are dedicated to keeping this place safe."
When he's not working, Pinelle said he likes to spend time with his family.
He also serves as an instructor at the Pueblo Community College police academy, a trainer in defusing verbal confrontations, and he provides security at the Colorado State Fair and at high school events like basketball games.
Pinelle had been thinking about retiring when he reached age 50 next year, but the move to police chief has caused him to reconsider.
"I'm going to stay awhile now," he said. "It's a new challenge."
