Denver Police Technician Cleared Of Double Dipping

By Brian Maass

DENVER (CBS4)- After more than a 1½ years of investigation, the Denver Manager of Safety has cleared Denver Police Technician Brett Titus of accusations of "double dipping" but fined him six days pay for several minor rules violations.

The probe of Titus began in 2014 after CBS4 revealed Denver Police Department records showing that after Titus was injured at work in 2013, he was placed on limited duty status. However, he continued to travel out of state and earn thousands of dollars from his private business training police K9s.

"I made a mistake," Titus said at the time. "I screwed up and will take my lumps."

But in a disciplinary letter this month, the Denver Manager of Safety's Office said Titus was not actually in the wrong, but that the Denver Police Department had made an error.

According to the letter, "Upon receiving his doctor's medical findings, the Department mistakenly sent Technician Titus limited duty paperwork, which informed him that he was prohibited from working Secondary Employment while on limited duty. A subsequent investigation revealed that because of the extent of his injuries and his doctor's medical findings, Technician Titus should have been placed by the Department on Workers Compensation status during the entire time he was out. Technician Titus could legitimately do outside work so long as doing so did not go against the restrictions and limitations placed by his doctor. Thus, the training that Technician Titus performed in 2013 did not, in and of itself, violate any department rules. The department mistakenly classified him as being on limited duty."

Although exonerated of the most serious accusations, the Manager of Safety's Office found Titus failed to obtain proper permission for some of his off duty work in both 2011 and 2013 and also drove a police department vehicle when he was unable to work because of his injuries.

The investigation found Titus used his police car to drive 672 miles in 2013 when he had been specifically ordered not to drive the city vehicle, "In driving a Department vehicle after being notified that he was prohibited from doing so, Technician Titus engaged in conduct which had more than a minimal negative impact on the operations (and) professional image of the Department."

The disciplinary letter states, "Titus drove the vehicle during a period of time when he had no legitimate Department- related purpose to do so."

During the internal affairs investigation, Titus admitted driving the police vehicle for personal reasons.

The letter says Titus has taken responsibility for his actions and that Titus agrees with the penalty of losing six days pay for his infractions.

Titus told CBS4, "I'm glad it's over and I can move on. I knew I didn't break the law but it's sad that jealousy within my profession takes it to this level. The department did a great job of investigating this in depth and finding their mistakes as well as mine yet still treating me with respect and professionalism.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.