Michael DeHerrera

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: 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 >>

Michael DeHerrera beating: Cop Devin Sparks fired (again), Randy Murr reinstated (again)

As we've reported, Denver cops Devin Sparks and Randy Murr have been suspended, fired and un-fired since the April 2009 on-camera beating of Michael DeHerrera, who was attacked by Sparks while using his cell phone; see the video below. Now, the Civil Service Commission has rendered what appears to t ... More >>

Photos: Ten Obama fans on why they'll vote no matter what Dick Morris says

Before a group of Mitt Romney supporters in Centennial earlier this week, Fox News analyst and conservative pundit Dick Morris said Barack Obama won't be elected because his fans won't actually vote. Today, before Obama took the stage in Golden, we asked ten supporters what they think of Morris's co ... More >>

Denver police misconduct allegations: A Westword update

In this week's cover story, "Back on the Beat," Westword explores recent changes within the Denver Police Department's oversight system and its investigation of Alex Landau's January 2009 beating. For a while, there won't be any changes: While the Department of Justice analyzes the Landau, the DPD h ... More >>

Appeals hearing for Michael DeHerrera officers delayed (again) until October

For those keeping track at home, the investigation of the April 2009 on-camera beating of Michael DeHerrera has lasted more than three years -- and it's not done yet: The Colorado Progressive Coalition announced today that the case had been delayed for five more months. Over the past three years, th ... 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 >>

Michael DeHerrera beating: Activist says ruling blocking cops' reinstatement only partial victory

Since the April 2009 on-camera beating of Michael DeHerrera, Denver Police Officer Devin Sparks and Corporal Randy Murr, who can be seen in a video below attacking DeHerrera while he used his cell phone, have been suspended, fired and un-fired. Now, a new ruling nixes their reinstatement. But while ... More >>

9News-Denver Police relationship not overly cozy, producer says

In our post about a 9News red-light-camera story that featured inaccurate information supplied by the Denver Police Department, which had touted the report in a Twitter survey, we cited one source's suggestion that the relationship between the DPD and the station was too cozy. That observer pointed ... More >>

Denver's Civil Service Commission should be fired along with bad cops

There's not much a Denver cop can't do on the job these days. He can beat men without provocation, mace women for fun, disobey orders, and lie to his superiors and the public. It's all good. It's just cops being cops, right? That's the apparent position of the Civil Service Commission, which hears d ... More >>

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

Top 37 mug shots of September 2011

Our September 2011 mug shot roundup features looks at horrific criminals -- such as Travis Forbes, who confessed to murdering Kenia Monge -- and the wackier kind, like the two guys who allegedly decided to reenact Weekend at Bernie's with their dead pal. Check out the month's roster below, and click ... More >>

Michael DeHerrera, victim of police beating, can't get a job because arrest still on record

The beating.​Earlier this month, we spoke to Michael DeHerrera and his father, Anthony, about their displeasure over the reinstatement of two cops fired for beating Michael in 2009. But Michael is dealing with more than disappointment. His dad says he can't get a job because that two-year-old ... More >>

Michael DeHerrera talks about reinstatement of cops who beat him (VIDEO)

Video below.​Update: After two police officers fired for the 2009 on-camera beating of Michael DeHerrera were reinstated to their jobs, we spoke to Anthony DeHerrera, Michael's father and a law enforcement veteran, about his displeasure with the decision. His words are echoed by Michael himsel ... More >>

Michael Hancock wants cop reinstatement in Michael DeHerrera case appealed, others react

Michael Hancock.​Yesterday, we noted in our post about the reinstatement of cops fired for beating Michael DeHerrera that we'd reached out to spokespeople for Mayor Michael Hancock to get his take. That response came yesterday evening, with Hancock calling for an appeal of the ruling -- and h ... More >>

Denver Police retirees back on the beat today, demanding a "fair" manager of safety

​While mayor-elect Michael Hancock continues to collect resumes for the numerous appointments he must make, a group of retired police officers will be gathering today to ask Hancock to appoint a new safety manager -- the sixth person in that position in a year -- who will be more sympathetic t ... More >>

Denver police brutality: City legal payouts pale compared to New York's $500 million problem

Alex Landau.​Allegations of Denver police brutality, from Michael DeHerrera's beating in LoDo to Alex Landau getting pummeled after allegedly making an illegal left turn, continue to make headlines. But how bad is Denver's police misconduct problem? Here's one point of comparison: While Denve ... More >>

Jay Estrada, Kenneth Briggle latest Denver cops sacked by Charles Garcia as police gripes mount

Charles Garcia.​Denver Manager of Safety Charles Garcia's decision to fire Officers Devin Sparks and Randy Murr for their actions in the Michael DeHerrera beating this past March wasn't the end of discipline against allegedly bad policemen. This week alone, Garcia has sacked two more cops (Jay ... More >>

Letters: "We rely on the sham system of oversight that John Hickenlooper instituted"

Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal keeps a close eye on the Denver police

Denver police brutality scandal: A multimedia timeline

Rosenthal.​This week's cover story, "The Watcher," details the role Denver's Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal has played in the ongoing controversy involving city law enforcement and alleged police brutality. It's a scandal that's made nationwide news and is shaping the mayoral race. How ... More >>

Reader: Sheriff's officers in Marvin Booker jail death should face manslaughter charges

Marvin Booker.​Manager of Safety Charley Garcia's decision to fire cops in the Michael DeHerrera beating and Denver Diner macing didn't earn officials a free pass from those upset that no criminal charges were filed in the July 2010 jail death of Marvin Booker. Here's one angry response.

Police brutality: Independent monitor says chokeholding Denver cop deserved to be fired

Jared Lunn.​The firing of two Denver cops over the Michael DeHerrera beating. The sacking of two more officers for billy-clubbing and macing at the Denver Diner. The $795,000 payout to brutality victim Alexander Landau. The bad PR keeps coming for the Denver Police Department. The latest? Two ... More >>

Bill Vidal makes good on his promise to clean up the Denver Police Department

At Denver Diner.​No matter who becomes Denver's next mayor, it looks like the winning candidate will inherit a tidier, if more pissed-off police department -- and he or she will have interim mayor Bill Vidal to thank. Vidal might have had second thoughts about his decision not to run for mayor ... More >>

Denver cops Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine fired for 2009 Denver Diner billy-clubbing, macing

Big pic below.​Manager of Safety Charley Garcia is singlehandedly making up for years of inaction regarding alleged excessive force cases. Just weeks after finally firing Officers Devin Sparks and Randy Muir in the Michael DeHerrera beating, he's sacked another pair of cops, Ricky Nixon and K ... More >>

Gerald Whitman: If Denver Police chief goes, next mayor shouldn't ignore DPD candidates

Tracie Keesee.​Here's your chief's hat, what's your hurry? With many of the mayoral candidates saying that Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman should go -- and Whitman himself saying he would resign if asked -- some people, including the author of today's Denver Post editorial, are calling for ... More >>

Michael DeHerrera beating: Officers Devin Sparks & Randy Murr fired by Manager of Safety

The attack.​Michael DeHerrera was using a cell phone when he was beaten by Denver Police officers -- a 2009 incident captured on video. Since then, there have been a great many cries for justice amid publicity over other alleged incidents of excessive force involving the likes of Alex Landau. ... More >>

Denver police bad behavior: 96 disciplined in 2010 for drunkenness, theft and more

​Charley Garcia officially becomes Denver's newest Manager of Safety today -- the fourth person to hold the position in the last year. The first day on the job for Garcia, a former head of Denver's Public Defender office, follows news that Police Chief Gerald Whitman has handed over his recomm ... More >>

Chief Whitman's recommended firing of Devin Sparks in DeHerrera beating a job-saving bid?

Video below.​In April 2009, Michael DeHerrera was talking on a cell phone when Officer Devin Sparks began wailing on him, apparently without provocation -- an incident captured in a video on view below. Since release of the footage, observers concerned with excessive-force complaints have call ... More >>

Nick Lynch excessive-force complaint: New claim alleges Denver Police cover-up

Flickr​In our post about Nick Lynch's rejected excessive-force complaint against four Denver cops, Robert Liechty, Lynch's attorney, said this apparent loss allowed him to re-file the lawsuit on cover-up grounds. Liechty has now done just that. Look below to check out his explanation for diff ... More >>

EyeOnCop cameras, by Denver-based United Surveillance, watch the cops so you don't have to

​Thanks to a string of alleged police-brutality incidents such as those involving Michael DeHerrera and Alex Landau, some Denverites may be feeling more nervous than ever about Denver cops. Such folks may want to consider the EyeOnCop video system, a new product developed by Denver-based Unite ... More >>

Marvin Booker protest against police planned for Denver Skatepark: "No justice, no peace"

Marvin Booker.​Alleged police brutality cases involving the likes of Alexander Landau and Michael DeHerrera may be front and center in the media these days, but friends and family members of Marvin Booker, who died in Denver jail in July under questionable circumstances, don't want his case fo ... More >>

Excessive force complaints far fewer than commendations, says Denver Police spokesman

DeHerrera.​Even though Denver's crime rate is going down, excessive force against the Denver Police Department cause continue to stir debate, as in the cases of Alexander Landau and Michael DeHerrera. In an effort to counter the impression of a department out of control, the DPD has issued a ... More >>

Alex Landau was pulled over for making an illegal left turn and ended up beaten bloody

Bill Vidal, new Denver mayor, talks good cops and bad at swearing-in ceremony

Bill Vidal​The most-asked question that new Denver mayor Bill Vidal has heard since it became clear he was going to be the 44th leader of the city has been this: What is he going to do about the cop problem? Allegations of police brutality among the ranks of the Denver Police Department have ... More >>

Alexander Landau got pulled over for an illegal left turn -- and ended up beaten bloody

Alexander Landau​On the night of January 15, 2009, nineteen-year-old Community College of Denver student Alexander Landau was stopped by Denver police for allegedly making an illegal left turn. But according to a federal complaint filed yesterday, within minutes of the stop Landau was being be ... More >>

Michael DeHerrera beating: Denver Police seek witness to alleged excessive use of force (PIC)

Large pic below.​The April 2009 police beating of Michael DeHerrera continues to be a matter of debate, with the Office of the Independent Monitor and former Manager of Safety Ron Perea coming to very different conclusions about whether officers at the scene used excessive force or were justif ... More >>

Marvin Booker: Denver DA will file no charges in case of man who died in custody at Denver Jail

Marvin Booker.​Last month, a video of Michael DeHerrera being attacked without apparent provocation by a Denver cop received plenty of attention, especially after Mayor John Hickenlooper asked the FBI to review the case after his manager of safety declined to sack the officers involved. Firing ... More >>

Denver police's alleged brutality tops Top 5 Police Blunders list on TrueCrimeReport.com

​TrueCrimeReport.com, a national crime website by Westword parent Village Voice Media, has been giving Colorado unwanted attention. Three weeks after Tim Masters case detective James Broderick finished first on the site's weekly Top 5 Police Blunders list, the Denver Police Department has reac ... More >>

Ron Perea, ex-Manager of Safety, no longer star of tonight's Citizen Oversight Board forum

Courtesy of Denver Bar AssociationMary Malatesta.​The Citizen Oversight Board -- the seven-member group set up as a watchdog for the city's Safety Department -- had already changed the venue for tonight's quarterly public forum to a larger venue. After all, the board anticipated a big turnout ... More >>

Gerry Whitman: Will Michael DeHerrera police brutality case speed chief to retirement?

From CBS4 coverage.​The police-brutality controversy spurred by the attack on Michael DeHerrera -- which spawned yesterday's press event decrying violence against LGBTQ community members (to see photos, click here) -- has increased pressure on Denver Chief of Police Gerry Whitman. He defends h ... More >>

Michael DeHerrera police beating: Photos from today's call to action by LGBTQ community

Crystal Middlestadt.​Earlier today, we shared info about a press conference sponsored by the reps of the local LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community regarding publicity generated by the police attack on Michael DeHerrera and his partner, Shawn Johnson, as well as the res ... More >>

Denver Police Department takes a beating with excessive force reports

​The Denver Police Department has made LoDo safe from the Let Out crowds, as Alan Prendergast's cover story this week details. The big question now: Who'll keep the Let Out crowds safe from the Denver police?

Police "excessive force:" Denver quietly settles James Watkins suit over another LoDo incident

Eric Winfield​This week's feature, "The Asphalt Jungle," examines how better policing, including surveillance cameras, helped to quell years of street violence during Let Out in lower downtown. But cameras are also capturing more Denver cops using dubious arrest tactics in dealing with intox ... More >>

Police beating? John Hickenlooper not taking position on case, but wants FBI to weigh in

From the video below.​Yesterday, we told you about a disagreement between the Office of the Independent Monitor's Richard Rosenthal and Manager of Safety Ron Perea over the April 2009 Denver Police beating of Michael DeHerrera. A video seems to show DeHerrera being attacked by Officer Devin Sp ... More >>

Police beating? Reasonable force? Weird camera moves?: Inside the Michael DeHerrera video

From the video below.​Today, the Office of the Independent Monitor released a report about the April 2009 beating of Michael DeHerrera, with the OIM's Richard Rosenthal and Manager of Safety Ron Perea coming to very different conclusions about a video of the incident. Rosenthal thinks the two ... More >>