Denver’s police union is urging the City Council to be cautious in vetting the Louisville, Ky., police chief whom Mayor Michael Hancock has chosen for the same spot in Denver, citing incidents in his past.
“We want to make sure we are getting the right person for the job,” said Nick Rogers, president of the Police Protective Association.
Rogers said there is no campaign to keep the council from approving Chief Robert White.
“I’m just raising questions,” he said.
Officers, retired chiefs and other residents have contacted him with questions about White, Rogers said.
Hancock put White through a thorough vetting process and his contract must be approved by the council, said Hancock spokeswoman Amber Miller.
“White was chosen for his leadership experience, community wherewithal and dedication to working hand in hand with our officers and community to restore the public’s confidence in the Police Department,” Miller said.
The council’s Health, Safety, Education and Services Committee will review the contract Tuesday, said Paul Lopez, the committee chair.
“That will be an appropriate time to have more discussion on this appointment and allow him to respond to any questions,” Lopez said.
White, who is in Louisville, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Among the items Rogers wants the council to consider is a drug test White initially failed more than 25 years ago when he was up for a promotion in Washington, D.C., where he began his career. He later took a second test, and that test and the initial screen came back negative for drugs on further examination.
He later sued the Fraternal Order of Police, claiming the union defamed him by releasing the information, and won $50,000.
In 2002, while chief in Greensboro, N.C., White faced scrutiny when he picked up his son and drove him away from a stop while the son was being investigated for drunken driving. White said officers on the scene failed to administer a breath test to his then-21-year-old son but agreed he was not impaired and shouldn’t be arrested.
White bumped heads with the police union in Louisville over discipline and police tactics. In a 2005 survey of 505 members of Louisville’s police union, 350 cops said White didn’t have “thorough job knowledge” to effectively perform as chief.
The Louisville Metro Police Department then had about 1,200 officers, as it does today.
Regarding a similar survey, White said he had heard plenty of positive feedback from officers and that “most citizens in the community believe we’re going in the right direction,” according to The Courier-Journal of Louisville.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com
