There was outrage on both sides of the political aisle over Gov. Jared Polis’ commutation last week of the nine-year prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk — and unrepentant election-conspiracy monger — Tina Peters. Criticism was particularly harsh from Polis’ fellow Democrats, who publicly denounced his use of his clemency powers on Peters’ behalf.

The governor’s side of the aisle was silent, however, on another commutation issued by Polis the same day. The convict, Brandin Kreuzer, was unfamiliar to the general public and at first flew under the radar — as did more than 40 other obscure prison inmates granted commutations and pardons by Polis at the same time he freed the headline-grabbing Peters.

But law officers at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recalled the name well.

Kreuzer, 37, who will be paroled Monday thanks to Polis, had been sentenced to 50 years behind bars in 2010 for a 2008 crime spree in which he shot a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy. 

As recounted in a news report by The Gazette, Kreuzer went on a monthlong crime binge carried out with co-defendant Taylor Moudy across Douglas County, including in Castle Pines and Castle Rock. Authorities said the pair committed armed robbery, kidnapping, burglaries and thefts while using tactical gear and aliases. 

It came to a head when Kreuzer fired multiple rounds at pursuing deputies during a high-speed chase on Colorado 105. Deputy Todd Tucker was struck in the arm and patrol vehicles were damaged before the suspects fled on foot. Both were captured after a manhunt.

Now, Kreuzer gets out after only 15 years. 

Douglas County law officers haven’t forgotten

“People were afraid in this community back in 2008 during that time frame until we got these guys in custody,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said at a news conference. 

“I have spoken with both deputies involved, and they are absolutely furious, as am I,” Weekly declared in a news release. “The audacity of Governor Polis to grant clemency to a would-be cop killer on National Peace Officer Memorial Day shows a complete lack of respect for the brave men and women who wear the badge.”

Tucker, now retired, called Polis’ commutation of Kreuzer’s sentence “an insult” to law enforcement.

“I cannot adequately express the anger, disgust, and profound disappointment I feel,” Tucker said. “This decision sends a dangerous and demoralizing message.”

Cpl. Mike Adams, also involved in the shooting that day, pointed out it could have been fatal.

“If that windshield would not have stopped that bullet, I would not be standing here today,” Adams said.

In his commutation letter, Polis said his gesture to Kreuzer was based on his age at the time of the crimes, the length of his sentence and his conduct while incarcerated. The letter cited Kreuzer’s work developing the Redemption Road CrossFit Program, which has expanded to other prisons, as well as his completion of a welding apprenticeship and college courses.

“A 50-year sentence for the crimes you committed in your youth is disproportionate,” Polis wrote, adding that Kreuzer had shown “rehabilitation is possible.”

But is only 15 years a fitting punishment for Kreuzer’s rampage and near-cop killing? Polis doesn’t say.

And as to whether Kreuzer really is rehabilitated, as Polis insists, who knows?

At first blush, it had appeared the governor was trying to bury Peters’ name among the dozens of others for whom he was announcing clemency in a news release last week. In hindsight, you have to wonder if it might have been the other way around — that Peters in fact was the smokescreen that obscured the likes of Kreuzer.