Denver Post

Hearing assesses success of civilian review panel
Suggestions include beefing up law enforcement oversight
By Kieran Nicholson
Denver Post Staff Writer

Friday, October 17, 2003 - Lack of public confidence in the Denver Police Department over lethal force issues, including the shooting death of Paul Childs, prompted city officials Thursday to seek community input in evaluating the effectiveness of the Denver Public Safety Review Commission.

City Councilman Rick Garcia, chairman of the council's safety committee, and Roxane Baca, chairwoman of the safety review commission, spearheaded the hearing, which was well attended by community activists and law enforcement officials.

"It is time to take another look at how the commission functions and if there are ways to improve its effectiveness," said Garcia.

Created in 1992, the commission is Denver's citizen review board for complaints against Denver police officers and sheriff's deputies. It can recommend corrective action and policy changes to the Police Department, the Sheriff's Office and the city, but some community activists said it's time to beef up the commission's power to police the police.

Steve Nash, of the citizens group CopWatch, told the commission that the Police Department's internal affairs unit should be downsized and that the money used to fund internal affairs could fund the commission instead.

All allegations of police misconduct should go through the commission, and its decisions should be "binding" and "not recommendations," Nash said.

The commission has a budget of $110,000 and two-full time staff members. Members are volunteers.

Pittsburgh's equivalent of the commission has eight staff members and a $450,000 budget, said Adrienne Benevidez, a former Denver commission member and chairwoman. The Denver commission "does not have the resources to do an effective job," she said.

Police Chief Gerry Whitman attended the hearing, but did not address the commission. In an interview after the hearing, Whitman said the panel "is a hybrid of models you see from across the country."

Whitman said the commission has been instrumental in recommending some policy changes the department has enacted.

A consensus will be needed among the commission, the Police Department, the safety manager's office and the city for any changes in the body's role, Whitman said.

Whitman declined to comment on the possibility of an expanded commission taking on investigative roles with decision-making powers, but did say investigations are "cumbersome and expensive."