Former Denver police officer charged in bar fire
Brian Maass, CBS4 News
Published January 16, 2009 at 7:34 a.m.
Updated January 16, 2009 at 7:34 a.m.
A former Denver police officer is facing felony charges in Nebraska for allegedly burning down a popular bar and restaurant that he owned.
David Kechter, who served 35 years with DPD before retiring in 2004, is charged with felony arson and defrauding an insurance agency. He is free on $25,000 bail.
"This can't be our David Kechter," thought DPD Capt. Brian Gallagher, when he first heard of the case.
Gallagher worked with Kechter in the vice and narcotics division and they later served together on the police pension board.
"He was a good narcotics investigator, amicable and friendly," recalled Gallagher. "It shocked me to think that any police officer, but especially someone I felt I knew fairly well could be involved or accused of something like that."
The criminal charges stem from an early morning fire Dec. 15 at The Platte Canyon Bar and Grill near Lake Minatare, Neb. It's four miles outside of Scottsbluff, Neb. Kechter and his wife owned and operated the popular restaurant, which also had a convenience store and living quarters upstairs.
The fire left nothing but ashes. According to investigators in Nebraska, it didn't take long for them to realize the restaurant's owner was the prime suspect.
In an affidavit, investigators say that as the building was burning down, Kechter was having breakfast with a cousin, Donald Baily, at a nearby restaurant. When the cousin saw sheriff's cars racing by and wondered what was going on, Kechter allegedly said, "they are going out to put out the fire. Dave said the bar is burning."
According to Baily, Kechter then said "the fire department would be going down the road next."
Baily reported the conversation to investigators later that morning.
The Nebraska State Patrol says it later discovered that just before the fire, Kechter removed cash, pictures, a computer and guns from the restaurant and asked his cousin to keep the items.
Sgt. Monica Bartling of the Nebraska State Patrol told CBS4 that Kechter had also made numerous suspicious statements before the fire, telling friends, "the business itself would not take him under and he would burn it to the ground first. We heard from numerous people he had made that comment."
Kechter's attorney, Maren Chaloupka, did not return multiple calls from CBS4.
Kechter began his Denver police career in 1970. He rose from patrolman, to technician and retired in April 2004 as a detective. His disciplinary record was nearly spotless.
"You think you know people but we never really know someone as well as we think we do," Gallagher said.
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January 16, 2009
7:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Marshdale writes:
Imagine that. A cop gone bad. Who would've thought?
January 16, 2009
7:47 a.m.
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sheepherder writes:
Marshdale...ignorant
January 16, 2009
7:57 a.m.
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psu96 writes:
nice character..."his disciplinary record was NEARLY spotless"...nice
January 16, 2009
8:10 a.m.
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bfkane writes:
Let the cop bashing begin. People love it when a cop/former cop, or anyone having anything to do with police, act like idiots and screw up.
January 16, 2009
8:15 a.m.
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Deepstroke924 writes:
I guess he thought his "above the law" mentality was going to save him this time too...
January 16, 2009
8:28 a.m.
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Knude writes:
Cops should be allowed to break the law once in a while. They do a good job most of the time, and don't really get credit for all of the doughnuts they get off of the streets.
January 16, 2009
8:32 a.m.
SockRayBlue writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 16, 2009
8:39 a.m.
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Iowahockey82 writes:
psu96 writes:nice character..."his disciplinary record was NEARLY spotless"...nice
I'm sure you have a spotless record and have never gotten in trouble.
January 16, 2009
8:42 a.m.
tmello8 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
January 16, 2009
9:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
leavemealone writes:
Cops are just one simple step away from practicing a life of crime.
Most don't take that step, however, the ones that do can get away with it more times than not.
January 16, 2009
10:08 a.m.
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Marshdale writes:
Sheepherder:
It was meant to be tongue and cheek. I do realize most cops are good people. I should have clarified my statement. By saying that the media rarely reports on the good quality of most cops.
January 16, 2009
10:27 a.m.
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theairdog writes:
leavemealone writes:"Cops are just one simple step away from practicing a life of crime.
Most don't take that step, however, the ones that do can get away with it more times than not."
Typical response from a thug. You get the "ID Ten T" award.
January 16, 2009
10:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
303Centennial writes:
All you cop bashers remember your posts the very next time you pick up the phone and call 9-1-1 because you need help, to report your child missing, or for your medical emergency. Remember, the police are often times the first on scene to to begin CPR and urgent care.
January 16, 2009
10:39 a.m.
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leavemealone writes:
theairdog writes:
"Typical response from a thug. You get the "ID Ten T" award."
I was a cop in the early 80's & quit as a result of witnessing very inappropriate behavior on a daily basis.
January 16, 2009
10:48 a.m.
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psu96 writes:
Iowa Hockey,
I do in my employment record. Try again?
Hockey in Iowa, thats funny.
January 16, 2009
10:52 a.m.
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psu96 writes:
303,
first responders are usually everyday citizens...most cops are good,no doubt but the ones that are bad have been so for awhile, it's just like people bashing public schools, most teachers are good but parents complain about that one teacher and thats all they focus on. therefore the conclusion is made that most teachers s*&k, we as Americans are good at that, unfortunately.
January 16, 2009
11:16 a.m.
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nan writes:
Poor Dave I guess you're not as great as you want everybody in Strasburg & surrounding areas to think. What an example to all of the kids that looked up to you. Shame Shame
January 16, 2009
11:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
Bing987 writes:
>>303Centennial>> All you cop bashers remember your posts the very next time you pick up the phone and call 9-1-1 because you need help, to report your child missing, or for your medical emergency.
So, is your point that is is okay to have bad cops in the system because we might one day need to call a cop and then hope that today is the day when they are good rather than bad?
I would think that we should be looking to get rid of the bad cops. I am surprised that you support bad cops.
January 16, 2009
11:30 a.m.
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TotheRight writes:
People like to hate cops, it makes good headlines. That is why the media seeks out stories about them. You rarely read, former Dentist charges in fire at bar, or former Sales Clerk charged in assault.
January 16, 2009
11:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
303Centennial writes:
Bing987 writes:
So, is your point that is is okay to have bad cops in the system because we might one day need to call a cop and then hope that today is the day when they are good rather than bad?
-----
Not at -- it is the generalization that makes the comment very unfortunate and based on bias, ignorance and the desire to assign blame which many have become accustomed.
January 16, 2009
11:43 a.m.
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Noia writes:
I think things have changed in most police departments since your implied "Scorpio" days 25 years ago Leave. If it were true there would never be an article printed about bad officers right?
"Cops are just one simple step away from practicing a life of crime. Most don't take that step, however, the ones that do can get away with it more times than not."
What the rest of us aren't also that one step away also?
Using this guy's story to make a statement on of how cops would be able to get away with crimes better then most, is rather idiotic. If anything this guy shows they could very well be more inept at crimes then the average person!
January 16, 2009
11:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
303Centennial writes:
Bing987 -- Or is it a great cop who made some bad choices later in life -- after his career. The generalized statements are completely ignorant.
January 16, 2009
12:07 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
Cops think that they can keep the same behavior pattens once they take off the badge....
The only difference is that some cops behave like thugs & do it under the color of authority....
Time to clean house. You want respect, copper, EARN IT by CLEANING HOUSE & getting rid of the thugs that you keep with your OMERTA...
January 16, 2009
12:13 p.m.
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sebrinah writes:
Ummm....this happened a month ago. This guy retired almost 5 years ago and doesn't even live in the state....why is this news??? Because he is a retired cop and so every pissed off "I got a ticket when I shouldn't have" moron can complain about cops. Give me a break...get lives, and let other's live theirs!
January 16, 2009
12:21 p.m.
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Bing987 writes:
>>303Centennial>> Not at -- it is the generalization that makes the comment very unfortunate and based on bias, ignorance and the desire to assign blame which many have become accustomed.
So why then are you on this thread attacking the people who bash bad cops?
To me that looks like you are sticking up for bad cops because someday somewhere they might do a halfway good deed.
January 16, 2009
1:25 p.m.
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KCBRONCOFAN writes:
Now, now children. Fight nice or I'll have to call the cops.
January 16, 2009
2:12 p.m.
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sweetater writes:
Cops are human too and it is beginning to look like our economy is starting to make people make stupid, stupid choices.
January 16, 2009
2:33 p.m.
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040506 writes:
He is one of many who are seeing everything they worked for during a life time vanish. Why keep kicking a man when he is down. "He who is without sin, let him/her cast the first stone." He made a dumb decision aided by severe stress. None of us know what we'd do in the same instance. I live in Strasburg - I don't hold this against a man I've know for years. One dumb decision doesn't mean he is all bad.
January 16, 2009
2:44 p.m.
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Bing987 writes:
>>040506>> Why keep kicking a man when he is down. "He who is without sin, let him/her cast the first stone."
Funny story. The other day when I was pulled over by a cop for speeding, I tried your suggested phrase on him. I asked him if he was without sin and had never gone over the speed limit in his life.
You know what? He just laughed as he wrote me the ticket.
How often does that phrase actually work for you?
January 16, 2009
2:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
HopiMedicineMan writes:
Cops are in the way of law enforcement. There’s a shocker coming from the most conservative poster here. Cops are the reporting agency of the insurance company. I’d rather by-pass the cop and go straight to the insurance claims personnel, saving a call and maybe a week. If everyone carried a gun, we’d have no need for cops. And it would make for a much more exciting town. The history behind the Second Amendment disagrees with the whole notion of a police force. The Founders envisioned a protecting militia of citizens.
Be that as it may, I know that country up there. The economy has been imploding for years, even though there’s vast agricultural and mineral wealth.
January 16, 2009
2:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Never_Wrong writes:
This is the typical good cop turns bad cop and starts running an illegal arms ring in the southwest part of the country while wearing ostrich skin boots and a scarf made of the ears of his enemies. Sad really.
January 16, 2009
2:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
040506 writes:
BING 987 - YOU ARE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES. ACTUALLY THE PHRASE WORKS FOR ME EVERYTIME. SO FAR MY "MESS UPS" DIDN'T MAKE THE PAPER. ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO LAW? I'M MUCH TO BUSY WITH THE EVENTS IN MY LIFE TO JUDGE ANOTHER.
January 16, 2009
3:12 p.m.
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Never_Wrong writes:
040506 - You are very special and potentially made of gold. You are an amazing human.
January 16, 2009
3:16 p.m.
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Bing987 writes:
>>040506>> YOU ARE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES.
Quite true. Going 5 MPH over the limit should be considered a trivial offense while arson and insurance fraud should be considered major.
I'm kind of surprised that you'd dismiss major felonies with the flippant phrase, "He who is without sin, let him/her cast the first stone."
>> ACTUALLY THE PHRASE WORKS FOR ME EVERYTIME. SO FAR MY "MESS UPS" DIDN'T MAKE THE PAPER.
Ah, so you really do consider arson and insurance fraud to be a just a "mess up." Oopsie! I won't do it again, I promise. Scout's honor!
>> ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO LAW?
Of course not. You are actually the one that seems to be suggesting that arson is just a "mess up" and should not be prosecuted (since there is no one without sin to cast the first stone).
January 16, 2009
3:22 p.m.
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Never_Wrong writes:
My favorite thing about arson is that it could be considered just a "mess up"...I mean its very similar to abortion. Just a mess up you know.
January 16, 2009
3:22 p.m.
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Rent_Due writes:
It doesn't speak very highly of the DPD when a long seasoned veteran doesn't know any better than to shut up and wait for the check.
January 16, 2009
3:23 p.m.
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Never_Wrong writes:
Does anyone know this cop's social security number?
January 16, 2009
3:39 p.m.
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GnKen writes:
The point, I believe, is not that all cops are bad or good, or that anyone is without sin. The point, and the reason a crime (any crime) committed by a (former) member of a police force is newsworthy and particularly egregious, is that these men and women have taken it upon themselves to be ENFORCERS of the law. They have sworn an oath to the state (you and me) to uphold and obey the LAW, while the rest of us shlups are simply here to obey it (them).