Without any of the pitched discussion that accompanied last week’s meeting, the Denver City Council on Monday passed a resolution designed to strengthen the Office of the Independent Monitor.
The council voted 11-0 to amend the city’s municipal code and give the civilian oversight agency greater investigative authority, including access to information and quicker responses to record requests. Two members of the council were absent for the vote, including Jeanne Faatz, who abstained during last week’s preliminary vote.
“With everything going on these days, both here and across the county, it’s very important that the people are confident that they have an independent agency looking at issues inside the police department and sheriff’s office,” independent monitor Nick Mitchell said after Monday’s vote. “I’m pleased that it passed, and we can continue working to make sure procedure, policy and training are where they should be.”
There was no testimony or debate on Monday.
That was in to a week ago, when the bill for revision moved on with a 10-1 tally that came shortly before midnight, at the conclusion of what some council members and participants called “very heated” debate.
By contrast, the only hint of discord on Monday came earlier in the day, in the form of a letter that the Denver Police Protective Association, the union representing the department’s 1,420 officers, sent to each council member the proposed revision.
The union hoped to prevent the monitor from receiving personal information about officers. It also asked the City Council to restrict what it calls the monitor’s wish for “unbridled and unnecessary access to information” recorded by officers’ body cameras.
No one representing the union was present at Monday’s City Council meeting.
“It was a no-brainer to pass this,” said Councilman Albus Brooks.
The resolution will move on to Mayor Michael Hancock, with some City Council members saying they expect it to be signed later this week.
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292, acotton@denverpost.com or twitter.com/anthonycottondp
