The Greeley Tribune reported that Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke had to stand in front of cameras and explain the obvious: his office had no legal choice but to release 21-year-old Debisa Ephrain, a violent offender deemed incompetent and non-restorable. Governor Jared Polis, ever the Twitter Jedi, waved his digital lightsaber and declared the release “absolutely unacceptable,” suggesting Weld County officials simply didn’t use the law properly. Rourke called that claim “completely inaccurate,” pointing to HB 24-1034 – the Polis-signed law that mandates dismissal in these exact circumstances.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Weld DA Michael Rourke explained he had to dismiss felony cases – including attempted homicide – because state law gave him no discretion.
- HB 24-1034, passed in 2024 with bipartisan votes and Polis’ signature, requires dismissal when defendants are incompetent and unlikely to be restored.
- Elon Musk called the release “insane.” Polis tried to dunk on Weld officials in response – only to get schooled on what his own law actually says.
- Sheriff Steve Reams bluntly said HB 24-1034 “has created a crisis” of dangerous people walking free, with video evidence of Ephrain’s violent behavior.
- Local law enforcement testified against this provision back when it was debated. The Capitol passed it anyway, and now Weld residents are paying the price.
My Bottom Line
Governor Polis, or Governor Gaslight as I now call him, thinks he’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and the rest of us are weak-minded stormtroopers. With a wave of his hand – or a tweet – he declares, “These are not the droids you’re looking for,” and expects Weld County to swallow the lie. Sorry, Jedi, but the statute you signed mandated the release. No discretion. No wiggle room. No lightsaber spin can change that.
Let’s be blunt: this is what virtue signaling disguised as policy looks like. HB 24-1034 wasn’t some accidental clerical error – it was deliberate. And now Weld County families have to sleep at night knowing a violent man is out because Denver politicians wanted to look compassionate. Compassion for criminals, that is.
I’ll give credit where it’s due – Rourke and Sheriff Reams are doing the unglamorous work of reminding Coloradans that actions in the State Capitol have deadly real-world consequences. And here’s the good news for the so-called “rebel forces” in Weld: we still have a Home Rule Charter. That means we’ve got tools to fight back against the Empire’s nonsense. Polis may cosplay as a Jedi Master, but down here in Weld, we’ve got blasters – and the will to use them.
We’ll see how sincere the Gov was when he said, “I support local governments in using every tool they can to protect public safety, and have made state staff available to work on options in partnership with local governments to ensure dangerous individuals are not released into the community.”
The people of Colorado deserve laws that prioritize their safety, not the political egos of Boulder cocktail circles. And until the Capitol finds the spine to fix this legislative dumpster fire, don’t be surprised when Weld County becomes the loudest voice in the rebellion.
