Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey decided last week not to bring charges against a deputy who punched an inmate at the city jail. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)
Re: No charges against Denver deputy seen punching inmate in video, Aug. 23 news story; and Questionable call by DA on latest Denver jail incident, Aug. 25 editorial.
The district attorney s primary mission is to prosecute criminal offenses. One of the police department s principal functions is to investigate criminal offenses and present the district attorney with the evidence necessary to obtain a conviction. They operate as a team.
Having the district attorney prosecute cases of alleged criminal behavior on the part of police officers and sheriff s deputies is a conflict of interest so apparent that anyone could see it from a mile away.
All allegations of criminal police conduct should be automatically referred to an independent special prosecutor with no other connections of any kind to law enforcement.
The Denver Post s editorial board took a pusillanimous stand on this one. Waffles, anyone?
David Klemme, Westminster
This letter was published in the Aug. 27 edition.
