Ron Perea

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Charley Garcia leaves the Manager of Safety job -- after sacking nine officers

CBS4​Charley Garcia is gone from the Denver Manager of Safety's office almost as quickly as he came in. In March, then-mayor Bill Vidal had appointed Garcia, a former state public defender, to the post, making him the fourth person to hold it in a year. He replaced interim manager Mary Maletes ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Ken Simpson: A Denver mayor's race profile

Ken Simpson.​With John Hickenlooper serving as Colorado's governor, we know Denver will have a new mayor this year, and the race is wide open. To introduce you to the players, we're offering profiles of official candidates. Next up: Ken Simpson. "I believe that one person can make a differenc ... 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

Denver Police Department goes all Law & Order in new video series

Not today, John Doe.​The Denver Police Department is releasing a series of action-filled videos demonstrating the work of a police officer. The first one came out today and features a foot chase after a would-be bank robber near Curtis Park. It's got it all: voiceover, dramatic orchestration, ... More >>

iPad theft defendant Brandon Smith, 2010 Shmuck of the Year nominee

Theft in action.​Westword is asking readers to help us select the Shmuck of the Year by rolling out five candidates this month. The winner -- loser -- will be announced on January 3. Our first four candidates were Josh McDaniels, Scott McInnis, Gary Faulkner and Ron Perea. This week, say he ... More >>

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 >>

Carol Boigon: A Denver mayor's race profile

Carol Boigon.​With John Hickenlooper having been elected Colorado's governor, we know Denver will have a new mayor next year, and the race promises to be wide open. To introduce you to the players, we're offering profiles of official candidates. Next up: Carol Boigon. "I'm a person who never ... 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 >>

Police brutality: Denver incidents tie into national police-misconduct upswing

​Much has been made of several high-profile incidents of alleged police brutality involving the Denver PD, culminating in the resignation of Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea. Number crunchers even suggest Denver's number-one for excessive-force complaints. But while the focus may be on Denve ... More >>

Police misconduct: Denver ranks number one in terms of excessive force complaints

​Several police-brutality incidents and the resignation of Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea have cast a harsh light on the Denver PD. Chief Gerry Whitman doesn't think the department's out of control, telling the city safety committee, "Our use of force per arrest is less than most major pol ... More >>

Ron Perea rally supporters come out swinging: Kenny Be's Fotochop Friday

Full-sized art below.​Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea's resignation does not take effect until August 31, 2010, which leaves plenty of time for local law enforcement personnel to stage a beat-police support rally! While citizens were sickened to watch the video of Denver police beating a ... 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 >>

Ron Perea's resignation letter as Manager of Safety: "Respectfully" times two

Ron Perea.​As Patricia Calhoun noted earlier this morning, Ron Perea won't be headlining a Citizen Oversight Board forum tonight as planned -- because Perea resigned on Monday amid controversy over the alleged police beating of Michael DeHerrera. Now, KHOW's Peter Boyles has obtained Perea's ... 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 >>

Ron Perea resigns from Manager of Safety job as police-beating scandals escalate

Ron Perea.​Did he jump or was he pushed? That's question one sparked by word that Denver Manager of Safety Ron Perea has resigned amid mounting negative publicity about alleged police brutality. Perea, you'll recall, found nothing wrong with the brutal 2009 beating of Michael DeHerrera, who c ... 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 >>

Wheels of Fortune

Steve Meyer wants to sell pedicabs to the world — but is the world willing to go along for the ride?