Ricky Nixon

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Reader: Denver police brutality is a good argument for staying in the suburbs

Our post about a Denver Civil Service Commission decision to allow Officers Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine to return to their jobs at the Denver Police Department despite their controversial actions during a 2009 incident at the Denver Diner attracted strong comments and an unexpected endorsement of l ... 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 >>

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 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 >>

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 >>

Mary Beth Klee, new DPD Internal Affairs boss, a brutality apologist, attorney says

Late last month, the Denver Police Department named former district and country judge Jess Vigil to the new position of deputy manager of police discipline -- a move ballyhooed as an indication that the DPD under Chief Robert White is getting serious about brutality allegations. But the attorney for ... More >>

Photos: Trayvon Martin inspires police brutality march, demand for DPD review

Laurie Fitzgerald tried to tell her grandson about Trayvon Martin, about his hoodie, about his family, but it's hard. So she taught him the basics. When asked why he's carrrying a poster of the seventeen-year-old Florida student's face, four-year-old Royce Edwards answers only, "Because Trayvon is d ... More >>

Photos: Occupy Denver marches against police brutality

On Saturday, at age six months and one day, Occupy Denver rallied downtown to protest police brutality. More than 100 people gathered with signs and chants for one in a handful of protests dedicated to the topic in the past week. Although relationships between Occupy Denver and the Denver Police Dep ... 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 >>

Police brutality: Witness upset Denver Diner cops to be back on street

New update below: Denver's Civil Service Commission has determined that officers Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine, fired over an alleged brutality incident at the Denver Diner in 2009, can return to the street while the city appeals their reinstatement. This decision aggravates Colorado Progressive Coal ... More >>

F*ck the Police march: No evidence of urine-filled balloons, DPD says

Update: In the wake of Saturday's Fuck the Police march (see photos below), assorted media outlets, including the Denver Post, shared reports that urine-filled balloons had been hurled at the event, which resulted in five arrests. But Denver Police spokesman Lieutenant Matt Murray, who was on the sc ... 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 brutality: Attorney blasts city for missing Denver Diner appeal date for reinstated cops

Last month, Denver's Civil Service Commission reinstated officers Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine, who'd been fired for their actions in an alleged brutality incident at the Denver Diner in 2009. A lawsuit over the matter is still alive, but the victims' attorney is angry about the latest development: ... More >>

Police brutality: Reinstated cop still faces lawsuit in Denver Diner case

Big pics below.​Denver's Civil Service Commission has reinstated officers Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine, who'd been fired for their actions in an alleged brutality incident at the Denver Diner in 2009. But a lawsuit over the matter is still alive, and the attorney representing the plaintiffs e ... 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 >>

Denver Diner police beating: Lawsuits accuse Denver Police Dept. of cover-up (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​In April, Denver cops Ricky Nixon and Kevin Devine were fired in relation to a billy-clubbing and macing incident that took place in 2009. Now, the four victims in that case have filed lawsuits against the City and County of Denver, charging that as much damage was done to the ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Marvin Booker protest rally and march on the 16th Street Mall: A photo gallery

Marvin Booker.​Earlier this month, we reported that a rally for Marvin Booker, who died in Denver jail this past summer, would take place Saturday on the 16th Street Mall. That evening, a crowd of approximately 200-300 people -- some sporting bandannas, some waving signs -- turned minimally vi ... 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 >>

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 >>