The resignation of Denver’s embattled safety manager has eased tensions over police-discipline issues, if attendance at Thursday’s Citizen Oversight Board meeting is any guide.
That board, which monitors the Police Department’s investigations into police misconduct, last week relocated its quarterly public forum to the spacious social hall at Temple Emanuel to handle what was expected to be an overflow crowd.
Instead, about 30 people showed up, and the few who spoke out were limited to hard-core activists instead of the prominent community leaders in the spotlight a week ago.
The meeting occurred only days after Safety Manager Ron Perea resigned as overseer of Denver’s Police, Fire and Sheriff departments.
Perea resigned after his discipline decisions in two police-abuse cases generated an outcry from the public and criticism from Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal, who reviews investigations into police misconduct.
Perea originally suspended two officers for three days without pay after they were implicated in an April 9, 2009, beating of a man outside a LoDo nightclub. Perea found no excessive force in that case, despite a video that showed the man was doing nothing but talking on a cellphone when an officer confronted him. Perea disciplined the officers for filing inaccurate reports.
In the other case, Perea gave a 45-day suspension for lying and inappropriate force to an officer that Perea ruled had roughed up a man for complaining when the officer didn’t pursue charges against an assailant.
The Police Department has reopened the investigation into the LoDo incident. Before he resigned, Perea rescinded his decision in the other case.
Those who spoke Thursday applauded Rosenthal and the Citizen Oversight Board for criticizing Perea’s original discipline decisions, but they also demanded more extensive changes.
Mary Malatesta, the new acting safety manager, vowed that she would work to ensure the discipline system remains fair and just.
“First and foremost, I can attest that I am absolutely committed to being open and honest and to listening to you,” Malatesta said in remarks near the start of the meeting.
Her comments did not satisfy everyone, though.
“You sound like you have had a psychotic break from reality,” Robert Chase told her. “The public does not have confidence in the present discipline system.”
