Thin Blue Line: Pueblo County Sheriff

Monday 17 December 2012

Pueblo County Sheriff

A Pueblo County Sheriff's deputy and a retired Pueblo police officer died Friday in a plane crash in the San Isabel National Forest.The duo had been surveilling the forest searching for illegal marijuana grows when their plane went down near St. Charles Peak, Sheriff Kirk Taylor said."We're all pretty devastated," a dejected Taylor told the media late Friday.Officials did not release the names of the victims, but The Chieftain has learned they are Sheriff's Capt. Leide DeFusco and John Barger, a retired police captain.DeFusco's Facebook page was flooded with condolences and well-wishes for his family. His biography on the sheriff's website said he was a 21-year law enforcement veteran with both the county and city.DeFusco was head of the patrol division, Colorado State University-Pueblo patrol and the narcotics unit.DeFusco was preparing to leave for the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy.Barger retired from the police department in 2009 after a 32-year career. He retired as captain of investigations.A flying enthusiast, Barger was piloting the plane when it went down. Merle Manweiler is a fellow pilot and friend who knew Barger well.