Randy Murr

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 >>

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 >>

Alex Laundau responds to feds' decision not to charge Denver cops who brutally beat him

Organizations hoping to bury unpleasant or potentially controversial news traditionally release information late Friday, in the hope that many folks already in weekend mode miss the development. A classic example: Justice Department reps chose Friday at 6:30 p.m. to inform Alex Landau that they woul ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Alex Landau refuses to re-enact Denver cop beating

On January 29, 2009, Alex Landau was brutally beaten by Denver cops after they pulled him over for what they said was an illegal left turn -- but he charged was racial profiling. And the City of Denver agreed -- or at least was worried enough about the federal lawsuit Landau filed to settle with La ... 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 >>

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 >>

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

Police brutality: Cop reinstated before city has completed Alex Landau inquiry

Alex Landau.​The decision of the Civil Service Commission to reinstate cops Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine, who'd been sacked over an alleged 2009 brutality incident at the Denver Diner, is controversial in and of itself. But this twist becomes even more incendiary considering that Nixon was al ... More >>

Alex Landau discusses the lack of prosecution for the officers who beat him

Three years ago, Alex Landau became a symbol of sorts for racial inequality and police brutality in Denver. Three years ago, Denver police officers pulled Landau over for an alleged illegal left turn, and it was not long after that they beat him bloody. But that was three years ago, and Landau has c ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Alexander Landau on $795,000 police-brutality settlement: "I can move forward"

Landau.​On January 15, 2009, Alexander Landau was a nineteen-year-old Community College of Denver student who was pulled over for an illegal left turn and beaten bloody by three Denver cops. Now, thanks to a $795,000 settlement announced Monday, he's received one of the largest-ever payouts fo ... More >>

Alexander Landau police beating: Denver settles lawsuit for $795,000

Alex Landau.​Update: Denver City Council approved settling Landau's lawsuit for $795,000 during their meeting tonight. In a statement, Mayor Guillermo (Bill) Vidal noted, "This settlement sends our clear message to Mr. Landau and the community that we take these types of allegations seriously, ... 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 >>

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

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 >>

Hall of Shame: Westword's worst of the worst from 2010

Ron Perea, 2010 Shmuck of the Year nominee

Ron Perea.​Westword is asking readers to help us select a Shmuck of the Year by rolling out a new candidate each week throughout the month of December. The winner -- loser -- will be announced on January 3. Our first three candidates were Josh McDaniels, Scott McInnis and Osama-hunter Gary ... 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 >>