MONTE VISTA – The Monte Vista City Council approved a separation agreement with Police Chief Sean McDonagh on Feb. 20.  

City Manager Gigi Dennis presented the agreement during Thursday night’s regular council meeting.  

“Council there was a claim that was made by former Chief of Police Sean McDonagh,” Dennis said. “Working closely with our outside council, our City Attorney Eugene Farish, and a couple of CIRSA (Colorado Intergovernmental Risk Sharing Agency) attorneys, we came to a resolution with Mr. McDonagh. We will be paying him $35,000, half of that will be paid by CIRSA and the other half by the city. I am hoping or what I am asking is that you make the motion to give me the authority to sign the agreement. We will not be speaking any further about this incident. It will help our police department move on, and the community get past this incident, so that we can find the person who is going to be the right fit for our community.” 

The council unanimously approved the agreement. McDonagh’s resignation was effective immediately. 

Prior to accepting the MVPD lead position in July of 2024, McDonagh was the chief of police in Rocky Ford. 

McDonagh was born and raised in Australia where he became a law enforcement officer. McDonagh held several different positions in law enforcement in Australia, including being part of an intelligence response team, he was highway patrolman, and a commander and a supervisor. McDonagh moved to the United States in 2016 and to Colorado in 2022. 

According to published reports, Tyler Harford, who has been a Monte Vista police officer for the past eight years, was named acting police chief.