Mayor Hancock On Sheriff Department Review: 'Nothing About Report Is Pretty'
DENVER (CBS4) - Problems at almost every level -- that's the finding of a review of the Denver Sheriff Department.
Mayor Michael Hancock ordered the review after a string of excessive force cases cost the city more than $9 million to settle.
The 70-page report was released on Thursday. Assessors outlined key problem areas within the Denver Sheriff Department and more than 270 recommendations on how to improve them.
"We have already implemented several of the assessors' recommendations that could readily be addressed while the larger review of the department was under way," said Denver Interim Sheriff Elias Diggins.
The report found that reform is needed in almost every area with the department -- from improvements of leadership to the use of force, which is a big topic within the report.
The report reviewed the use of force -- not necessarily excessive or bad behavior -- but even sometimes justifiable force. It recommended that deputies get better guidance and training on de-escalation techniques so that force becomes a last resort.
The more than 270 recommendations include -- at the top of the list -- a new sheriff from the outside who can deliver new leadership ideas and vision.
Despite all the areas of improvement, assessors also said they faced very little resistance from deputies, and that there is a culture of innovation when it comes to programming and policy changes within the department.
"Nothing about this report is pretty. I'm appreciative of the sheriff deputies who were honest and candid, community members who were honest and candid, but the reality is he said 'the good, bad and the ugly,' and we're at the 'bad.' We're going to try to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't resort to the 'ugly,' " Hancock said. "The bottom line is that we're going to work together as a city to correct it."
Denise Maes of the American Civil Liberties Union said the good news is that the report seems thorough.
"The bad news is they found a lot of problems and they can't be addressed very easily," said Maes.
Some recommendations have already been put in place and there's also a team, including the current sheriff, the executive director of public safety and the city attorney who will see that others recommendations are put into place.
