Alex Martinez

Alex Landau on the decision not to charge cops who nearly beat him to death

Last week, Denver Manager of Safety Alex Martinez announced that there would be no charges against the three Denver police officers who nearly beat college student Alex Landau to death in 2009. Earlier this week, we spoke with Landau's lawyer, who was troubled by evidence he fears Martinez ignored. ... More >>

Alex Landau beating: Attorney says decision not to charge officers ignores key evidence

Last week, Denver Manager of Safety Alex Martinez announced that there would be no charges against the three Denver police officers who nearly beat college student Alex Landau to death in 2009. Afterward, Independent Monitor Nicholas Mitchell said Landau's claim that an Internal Affairs officer trie ... More >>

Alex Landau beating: Advocate backs police monitor's call for more investigation

Friday afternoon, the office of Denver Manager of Safety Alex Martinez announced that there would be no charges against the three Denver police officers who nearly beat college student Alex Landau to death in 2009. In Martinez's mind, the case should be over at this point. But Independent Monitor N ... More >>

Alex Landau case: No charges against three Denver cops in his brutal beating

Update below: In February, the Justice Department decided not to charge the officers who beat Alex Landau to a pulp with federal civil rights violations. Then, days later, a cop who pummeled him was reinstated at the conclusion of a separate excessive-force investigation. Although Landau was frustr ... More >>

Photos: Alex Landau faces Alex Martinez at Michael DeHerrera police brutality rally

Earlier this week, Alex Landau, who was brutally beaten by police in 2009, expressed frustration about the reinstatement of an officer previously fired in a separate incident involving Michael DeHerrera, and also complained about Manager of Safety Alex Martinez's decision not to meet with him about ... More >>

Alex Landau frustrated by cop reinstatement, latest delay in bloody beating investigation

Earlier this month, the Justice Department decided not to charge the officers who beat Alex Landau to a pulp with federal civil rights violations. This conclusion frustrated Landau, but he figured that at least he'd find out the results of a local investigation put on hold due to the feds' actions. ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Independent monitor criticizes police, Department of Safety over protest tactics

Occupy Denver may no longer be making headlines, but at least one city official is still talking about the protesters -- specifically law enforcement's role in a violent confrontation. A recent report from the Office of the Independent Monitor, the city's official watchdog, says Denver Police and th ... More >>

Denver Civil Service Commission "perplexed" by Manager of Safety's criticisms

Last week, on the eve of his one-year anniversary as Denver's Manager of Safety, Alex Martinez told us that one of the next big goals for his office is pushing the Civil Service Commission to implement serious reforms -- and he said he's not entirely confident about how things will go. Commission he ... More >>

Amendment 64: Manager of Safety predicts law enforcement "turmoil" if it passes

Alex Martinez, Denver's Manager of Safety, does not want to weigh in on the policy debates around Amendment 64, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act, which has only added to the national attention Colorado is getting this election. But, he tells us, one thing is clear: If it passes, there's lik ... More >>

Alex Martinez, Manager of Safety, wants Civil Service Commission reform despite latest ruling

Today is Alex Martinez' one-year anniversary as the head of Denver's Department of Safety -- and he says he has worked hard to start restoring the public's faith in city law enforcement. But even with a promising ruling this week keeping a fired cop off the force, Martinez says he's not confident ... More >>

Jay Estrada: Denver Civil Service Commission actually upholds decision to fire cop

Denver's Civil Service Commission has been under fire for not letting fired cops stay fired from the likes of Mayor Michael Hancock, who called for reform after the reinstatement of two officers sacked over the 2009 billy-clubbing incident at the Denver Diner. Is the criticism having an effect? One ... More >>

Denver Diner case: Mayor Michael Hancock says reforms needed at Civil Service Commission

Asked about the Denver Civil Service Commission's reinstatement of two police officers fired for a billy-clubbing and macing incident at the Denver Diner, Mayor Michael Hancock says it's time to re-evaluate the commission's disciplinary hearings process. His comments only add to pressure on the comm ... More >>

Denver Diner: Attorney, witness of brutality incident decry accused cops' back-to-work order

Update: Last week, we noted that Denver police officers Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine had been given the go-ahead by the Denver Civil Service Commission to hit the streets again despite having been fired last year for their actions in the 2009 billy-clubbing and macing incident at the Denver Diner. H ... More >>

Michael Hancock takes cabinet to community for a preview of tonight's de-Brucing briefing

Mayor Michael Hancock held his second "Cabinet in the Community" town-hall meeting Saturday morning at the transformed Rude Recreation Center in west Denver -- a physical manifestation of his campaign promise to "reconnect people to their government." Even if there were more government representativ ... More >>

Independent Monitor finalists talk immigration, independence, racial profiling

Today, Mayor Michael Hancock will interview the last three candidates for Denver's open Independent Monitor position -- again. In the second round of a search that has lasted six months, finalists Kenneth Moore, Nicholas Mitchell and Gary Maas all share connections to Colorado. Last night, they answ ... More >>

Michael Hancock picks the right setting for today's State of the City speech

Mayor Michael Hancock will deliver his State of the City address at 10 a.m. today, a year after he took office. The setting for the speech, City Park, was chosen over a month ago, but it symbolizes two of the major (and overlapping) challenges he'll face over the next three years:

Michael Hancock's State of the City speech: Police reform and e-Denver

A year after taking office, Mayor Michael Hancock delivered his first State of the City address this morning, promoting a range of priorities, including restructuring the police department, increasing programs for children and a new online initiative he is calling "e-Denver." That's right, Denver is ... More >>

Can new faces and a new structure bring discipline to the Denver Police Department?

Alex Martinez, Manager of Safety, on window of opportunity to create change

On November 1, Alex Martinez traded his spot in the Colorado State Supreme Court to become Denver's sixth manager of safety in slightly more than a year. He has spoken publicly about his priorities for the position, which center on renewing public trust in the Denver Police Department and his office ... More >>

Denver police: Chief White hopes to reduce "stagnation" through realignment

On Friday afternoon, Denver Police Chief Robert White notified officers of the next step in his ongoing work to restructure the department: Through July 27, interested officers can apply for transfer or promotion to detective, corporal and technician candidates. In an interview with Westword last we ... More >>

Alex Landau still waiting for DPD decision, but his Westword story wins a major award

In January 2009, Alex Landau landed in the hospital after Denver cops pulled over the black teen for making an illegal left turn. He's still waiting for the Denver Police Department to determine the fate of the officers involved -- but another verdict came in this weekend, when Joel Warner's cover s ... More >>

Indepedent monitor: Search for Richard Rosenthal's successor drags on

The search is (still) on for Denver's second-ever independent monitor. After Richard Rosenthal accepted a similar position in British Columbia late last year, Mayor Michael Hancock's office convened a committee to search for his successor. By April, it had whittled the results down to three names: E ... More >>

Alex Landau beating: Denver cops puts case on pause as FBI investigates

Update below: Alex Landau talks about the news. Three years-plus since Alex Landau was beaten bloody after being pulled over for what officers cited as an illegal left turn, and a year since he was

Derrick Saunders, Denver cop, unfired despite driving 143 MPH while drunk

Cynics who believe there's no fired Denver police officer the Civil Service Commission won't reappoint have a new example to cite as evidence they're right. His name is Derrick Saunders, and the commission overturned the decision to sack him even though he pleaded guilty to driving 143 MPH while dr ... More >>

Independent Monitor: Meet candidates Eddie Aubrey, Julie Ruhlin and Stephen Connolly

Last night, Denver's future Independent Monitor and two other candidates spoke at their first community forum before the selection is whittled down. While Eddie Aubrey hails from Washington, Stephen Connolly and Julie Ruhlin live in Califonia, and all three boast experience from the Golden State. Wi ... More >>

Police misconduct: New review commander suggested suspension for DeHerrera officers

In the past month, the Denver Police Department has institutionalized numerous changes aimed at increasing the efficiency of its internal reviews and encouraging the public to put faith in the results. According to Police Chief Robert White and Manager of Safety Alex Martinez, this is a very, very g ... More >>

Meet the three California candidates for Denver's new Independent Monitor

Released yesterday, the list of finalists for the open Independent Monitor position features three natives of the Golden State. The finalists bring experience at the Offices of Independent Review in their current homes of Fresno, Los Angeles and Orange County. From here, the finalists will be whittl ... More >>

Police department creates new position to cut down layers of review, streamline process

Denver Police Chief Robert White has appointed Michael Battista to the post of Conduct Review Commander; he will head all reviews of police misconduct. In announcing the appointment, White said he hoped the new structure would cut down review time by at least 50 percent. With the new addition, the D ... More >>

Denver Diner cops going back to streets because some city Shmuck missed filing deadline

Kevin Divine and Ricky Nixon, the Denver police officers who were fired last April by then-Manager of Safety Charles Garcia because of their behavior during -- and after -- a controversial altercation at the Denver Diner in July 2009, have gotten their jobs back, at least for now. Blame our Shmuck o ... More >>

Jess Vigil named to new Department of Safety position to oversee police discipline

In an attempt to improve the public's trust in the police and the department's disciplinary review system, Manager of Safety Alex Martinez announced the creation of a new position within his office. Former district and country judge Jess Vigil will join the police review process as the deputy manage ... More >>

Jay Estrada latest fired Denver Police officer ordered to be reinstated: Why?

Jay Estrada.​Denver Police officers are fired on occasion -- but they don't always stay fired. This fact has been reinforced again by the actions of a hearing officers panel, which ruled that Detective Jay Estrada should don his uniform again. Last June, Estrada was sacked for lying in a high ... More >>

Police misconduct records and more to be off-limits under two new bills

Despite the obligatory squawks from lawmakers about the need for transparency in government, few of their actions are quite as transparent as their efforts to shield internal bureaucratic processes from outside scrutiny. For a demonstration of this principle in action, look no further than two bills ... More >>

Alonzo Ashley: No charges for eight cops in Denver Zoo death

Update below: On the same day Denver Manager of Safety Alex Martinez met with Westword, his office cleared eight cops in a July incident at the Denver Zoo during which Alonzo Ashley died. The decision summary contradicts the account offered by Ashley's loved ones in virtually every respect.

Alex Martinez, Denver's new Manager of Safety and DPD overseer: What would you ask him?

Have something you want to ask Alex Martinez, Denver's new Manager of Safety? This is your chance: Westword writers will be meeting with the former Colorado Supreme Court justice this morning, to get an overview of the office and ask about some specific issues, including the recent rulings overtur ... More >>

Robert White is a business-as-usual police chief, letter from Denver cops charges

"Where is the change?" asks a letter outlining a series of disappointing, business-as-usual moves by new Denver Police Chief Robert White. It was signed by "Men and Women of the Denver Police Department" and sent yesterday to Mayor Michael Hancock's office, which was scrambling last night to find a ... More >>

Ricky Nixon, Denver cop involved in several brutality cases, is reinstated

ACLU wants Department of Justice to investigate Denver Police

The December news that Richard Rosenthal, Denver's Independent Monitor, would be leaving the post for a similar job in British Columbia, was greeted with enthusiasm by some law-enforcement types, who saw him as anti-cop. And their delight wasn't tempered by his office's final scathing report, on vie ... More >>

Drunken speeding is no reason to be fired, says ex-cop Derrick Saunders

The Denver Police Department has had a difficult time firing bad cops over the past few years. And while the Department of Safety finally made some headway in 2011, it still has issues. For example, when Derrick Curtis Saunders was canned earlier this month, a whopping eighteen months after he was ... More >>

Occupy Denver: Mayor Michael Hancock talks about denied injunction and police frustrations

Michael Hancock.​Following the announcement that Judge Robert Blackburn denied Occupy Denver's request for a temporary restraining order against the City and County of Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock spoke -- briefly -- about the decision's implications for the city. His take on the matter: Thos ... More >>

Robert White will be Denver's next police chief, and Gerry Whitman will not be his PIO

Chief Robert White.​Mayor Michael Hancock's choice for Denver's new police chief, Robert White, was introduced at a hastily convened press conference at City Hall on Saturday. The announcement of Hancock's pick for this most-watched post had been moved up several days because the news of Whit ... More >>

Brian Boatright, come on down! You're the next justice on the Colorado Supreme Court

Brian Boatright.​Denver blog posts: Collect all three. Colorado Pols on Governor John Hicknelooper's appointment of Brian Boatright to the state supreme court as a replacement for Alex Martinez, the incoming Denver manager of safety. He definitely makes that robe work. Denver Egotist touts D ... More >>

Colorado Supreme Court: Neglected and abused kids shouldn't trust their lawyers

Flickr​One of the most basic principles of the American legal system is the guarantee that what you tell the attorney representing you is confidential and can't be disclosed without your permission. That's an absolute. Unless, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled this week, you happen to be a vuln ... More >>

Monica Marquez Supreme Court selection disappoints Clear the Bench's Matt Arnold

Monica Marquez.​Clear the Bench Colorado's Matt Arnold -- the man behind an effort to vote out three current Supreme Court justices for allegedly unconstitutional rulings -- was far less than thrilled by Governor Bill Ritter's appointment of Monica Marquez to the court. Indeed, he says that i ... More >>

Clear the Bench Colorado poll numbers show voter discontent with Colorado justices

​Clear the Bench's Matt Arnold says an overwhelming majority of Colorado voters will not be reelecting four Colorado Supreme Court Justices this fall, and he has the poll numbers to prove it. A phone survey of roughly 900 Colorado voters -- relatively evenly balanced between age, sex and poli ... More >>

Mary Mullarkey retirement: Clear the Bench's Matt Arnold says pressure's driving her out

Mary Mullarkey will leave the bench in November.​During yesterday's announcement about her intention to retire in November, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey said a vigorous campaign against her and three other justices had nothing to do with her decision. That's Mullarkey m ... More >>

Mark Grueskin, Matt Arnold tangle over judge retention: Should they stay or should they go?

Mark Grueskin wants judges to be evaluated in a thoughtful way.​Matt Arnold doesn't shy away from a fight. The Arnold-fronted ClearTheBenchColorado.org, an organization lobbying against the retention of four current Supreme Court justices, was recently targeted by a campaign-finance complaint ... More >>

Throw the bums off the Colorado Supreme Court, says Clear the Bench Colorado -- and John Suthers seems to agree

ClearTheBenchColorado.org's Facebook profile picture gives you a pretty good idea where Matt Arnold's coming from.​It took the better part of a week, but Matt Arnold, the man behind ClearTheBenchColorado.org, has finally gotten the Denver Post to blink. On Tuesday, the paper published, "AG Su ... More >>

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