Ex-PCSO Sergeant Accused of Stealing Over $17K in Union Dues

A former sergeant with the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $17,000 in union dues from fellow employees after the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 7 dissolved.

Jason Hanratty, 43, faces charges of felony theft and first-degree official misconduct, according to a PCSO news release.

A district court judge signed an arrest warrant stating Hanratty misused funds collected from 41 PCSO employees over a span of more than two years. As vice president of the now-defunct FOP Lodge 7, Hanratty allegedly deposited the union dues into personal and business accounts he controlled.

Hanratty resigned from the sheriff’s office on April 15. He had worked there since April 2007 and was serving as a patrol division sergeant at the time.

“This arrest is both troubling and necessary,” said Pueblo County Sheriff David Lucero. “We are sworn to uphold the law, not break it, and that obligation extends to every member of this agency, without exception.”

To ensure transparency and impartiality, the investigation was turned over to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. Lucero emphasized that bringing in an outside agency was vital to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Hanratty is currently being held in the Pueblo County jail on a $50,000 bond. The case has been forwarded to the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to determine formal charges. As of Monday evening, no court date had been set.

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