Office of the Independent Monitor

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 >>

Independent monitor: Five Denver police officer-involved shootings still under review

Just before the end of 2012, Nicholas Mitchell, Denver's new independent monitor, released his first report to the public, covering discipline cases at the police and sheriff's departments. The document from the city's official watchdog, just the second person to hold the position, offers a glimps ... More >>

Jamal Hunter sues city after fellow inmates scald his genitals

Jamal Hunter spent a stretch of 2011 in jail -- and he still bears the scars. Hunter has filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Denver and individual law enforcers for failing to properly protect him, after he says inmates scalded his genitals with boiling water and two deputies attacked hi ... 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 >>

Alonzo Ashley's family sues police, zoo for emotional, financial costs

One year after his death, Alonzo Ashley's family has filed a lawsuit on his behalf in U.S. District Court. A year ago this month, Ashley died of a heart attack and respiratory arrest after a skirmish at the Denver Zoo in which Denver Police officers contact-tased him. Fronted by his mother, Gail Wat ... More >>

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

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 >>

Occupy Denver: ACLU demands formal investigation of police conduct, pepper ball guns

This morning, the ACLU of Colorado requested a formal investigation of the Denver Police Department's conduct with Occupy Denver during the past six and a half months. The complaint, delivered to Police Chief Robert White and the Office of the Independent Monitor, cites both First Amendment freedoms ... 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 >>

John Diaz, former cop in excessive-force case, busted in assault on ex's boyfriend

Until last year, John Diaz was a Denver police officer. He resigned in the middle of an excessive-force investigation aimed at him and a fellow cop -- one in which his actions were ultimately found to be justified, more or less. But now, he's back in the spotlight for a potpourri of charges centerin ... More >>

Denver Police Twitter survey results on photo radar stories: "Who cares?" finishes strong

Update: Yesterday, we told you about a Denver Police Department Twitter survey asking respondents to compare the fairness of photo-radar reports by Fox31 and 9News. Earlier today, the DPD tweeted the results. The winner? Hard to say. But "Who cares?" did very, very well.

Sheriff exam cheating allegation: Independent Monitor office finds no evidence of wrongdoing

Video below.​Along with outgoing Manager of Safety Charley Garcia, the Office of the Independent Monitor, led by Richard Rosenthal, has taken heat from police organizations for alleged bias against officers. But the OIM's latest investigation -- an inquiry into supposed cheating on a Denver sh ... More >>

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

How to register a complaint - or compliment - about the city's law enforcement

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 >>

Ricky Nixon, cop fired over incident at Denver Diner, tied to earlier beating & shooting death

​As we reported yesterday, Manager of Safety Charley Garcia has sacked Denver cops Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine over allegedly billy-clubbing women to the ground and macing one of them in a July 2009 incident at the Denver Diner. Now it's been confirmed that one of the cops, Ricky Nixon, was a ... More >>

Marvin Booker lawsuit to establish pattern of police brutality in Denver, attorney says

Marvin Booker.​This morning, a team led by attorney Darold Killmer will file a lawsuit on view below in relation to Marvin Booker, who died in Denver jail July 9 after being put in a sleeper hold and Tased. But Killmer, who'll be center-stage during an 11 a.m. press conference about the case, ... More >>

Vicki Ferrari: Jury sides with Denver cop/ex-American Gladiator contestant in lawsuit

Vicki Ferrari.​Update: Last week, a jury sided with Vicki Ferrari, a Denver cop and former American Gladiators contestant in a lawsuit charging her with excessive force in relation to an interaction with David Kraus, manager of a local Grease Monkey, back in 2007. On Friday, we heard from Krau ... More >>

Martinez family lawsuit: Members of Mexican band say Denver cops mistakenly beat them

Daniel Martinez III.​Attorney David Lane says he's got about a half-dozen active lawsuits against the Denver Police Department, including an excessive-force complaint against DPD officer and ex-American Gladiator contestant Vicki Fernandez that's scheduled for trial beginning today. His latest ... More >>

Alex Landau and police brutality: Ricky Nixon, one of cops involved, tied to '06 shooting death

Alex Landau​Last week, Westword detailed how nineteen-year-old college student Alex Landau was beaten bloody by three Denver police officers -- Randy Murr, Tiffany Middleton and Ricky Nixon -- after being pulled over for an illegal left turn in January 2009. As first reported by West Denver C ... 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

Vicki Ferrari, Denver cop/American Gladiator contestant: Attorney attacks suit against her

Vicki Ferrari.​On Tuesday, we told you about an excessive force lawsuit aimed at Denver police officer and former American Gladiator contestant Vicki Ferrari; a similar complaint targeted Abbe Dorn, also a Denver cop and onetime American Gladiator hopeful, last September. But Sean Olson, Ferra ... More >>

Vicki Ferrari second Denver cop/American Gladiator contestant sued for excessive force

Vicki Ferrari.​Last September, we told you about a police brutality lawsuit targeting Denver Police officer Abbe Dorn, a former American Gladiator contender. Now, Vicki Ferrari -- a Dorn pal who's also a Denver cop and onetime American Gladiator contestant -- is on the cusp of a trial in a sui ... 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 >>

Denver Police Department announcement on reopening the DeHerrera investigation

​Yesterday's announcement from the Denver Police Department was short and very sweet to anyone who's been following the fallout from the DPD's handling of the Michael DeHerrera case: "Denver Police to Re-Open Investigation."

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 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 >>

Denver Police Department: Time it takes to disclipline problem officers "too long and... getting longer," says Office of the Independent Monitor

​Today brings the release of the 2009 report by the Office of the Independent Monitor, which is tasked with keeping a watchful eye on the Denver Police Department and Sheriff's Department to "provide for fair and objective oversight... and ensure public confidence in the ability of these depar ... More >>

Wake-Up Call: Ward without end, and other long-running controversies

News is busting out all over today -- and not just in Denver District Judge Larry Naves's courtroom, where Ward Churchill may take the stand in his case against the University of Colorado, now starting week two. Or on the Auraria campus, where veteran newshounds of the Rocky Mountain News will un ... More >>

Target Practice: Racism and Police Shootings Are No Game

Are Denver cops trigger-happy for minorities? A video game might hold the answer.