Richard Rosenthal

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 >>

Denver Diner case: Judge rules City of Denver can be put on trial for police brutality

A huge ruling in the lawsuit related to the 2009 billy-clubbing and macing incident at the Denver Diner. U.S. District Court Judge William Martinez has determined that the City of Denver can be put on trial for allegedly fostering a culture that tolerates police brutality and abuse. Reaction from an ... More >>

Nicholas Mitchell chosen by Michael Hancock as Denver's new independent monitor

At long last, Denver has a new head watchdog. After more than six months of searching, Mayor Michael Hancock offered Nicholas Mitchell the independent monitor spot vacated by Richard Rosenthal in December. Provided the city council confirms the mayor's choice, Mitchell will be the second in city his ... More >>

Michael Hancock announces three new finalists for independent monitor

Will the second time be a charm? A screening committee has submitted a trio of finalists for Denver's independent monitor job to Michael Hancock -- two months after the mayor's choice to fill the vacancy left by Richard Rosenthal turned him down, and the mayor declined to extend the offer to either ... More >>

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

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Richard Rosenthal: Independent monitor in Denver to head up unit in British Columbia

Rosenthal.​In May, Joel Warner profiled Richard Rosenthal, Denver's independent monitor -- the man charged with determining if police officers accused of misconduct were given appropriate punishment. Now, however, he's moving his act north -- way north. Today, Rosenthal was publicly announced ... 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.

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 >>

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 >>

Denver cops getting free ride for DUIs, suggests Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal

Rosenthal.​The new status report from Independent Monitor and Westword profile subject Richard Rosenthal contains a real whopper: He says off-duty Denver officers caught driving drunk in Denver may be scoring get-out-of-jail free cards. Since 2005, ten off-duty Denver officers have been buste ... More >>

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

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 >>

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

Denver police watchdog Richard Rosenthal loses bid for nonprofit presidency

Richard Rosenthal.​Richard Rosenthal, Denver's first-ever Independent Monitor of the Denver Police Department, has been a busy man since his appointment by Mayor John Hickenlooper in 2005. He commissioned the Police Assessment Resource Center to conduct a full-scale and retroactive review of ... 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 >>

Sonia Sotomayor could declare martial law on Kevin Orcutt's nunchaku

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 >>

Denver DNC Protestors Get Punked

But the artist's prank doesn't sit well with its targets.

Artist's Prank Punks Re-create 68, Other Activists

Denver Police Officer Being Charged with Assault has Been Disciplined Before

Target Practice: Racism and Police Shootings Are No Game

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