Groundskeeper facing charges following theft from Colorado golf course

Steven Toney, a groundskeeper at Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder, Colo., was recently terminated following criminal charges as a result of a police investigation into stolen golf course tools.

Toney allegedly stole two sets of tools and then attempted to pawn them. The charges include theft and providing false information to a pawnbroker. The city of Boulder placed Toney on leave and offered him the opportunity to participate in a due process hearing to consider his status as a city employee on Nov. 2. That afternoon, the city terminated his employment.

“This is a very unfortunate and rare incident,” Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde, the city manager, said. “We entrust city employees to be responsible stewards of all equipment related to their jobs and more importantly, of our credibility and trust with our taxpaying community. While Mr. Toney is, of course, entitled to a fair trial, the reported behavior is not consistent with our city’s value of integrity. I appreciate human resources, parks and recreation and the police department for taking the necessary steps in this case.”

According to a police report, the tool sets were first noticed missing from the equipment shop on March 6. Boulder police were contacted and opened a case on Oct. 19, after the tool sets were spotted at EZ Pawn in Lafayette. Both sets contained a tool with distinguishing damage, causing them to be easily identifiable as those missing from the golf course.

Further investigation revealed that Toney had brought the sets to the pawnshop, along with other tools that did not belong to the city. A receipt shows he received $200 for all the items.