A City Council committee took a first step Wednesday toward strengthening Denver’s independent monitor’s office by protecting it through the city’s charter.
The Governance and Charter Review committee approved a measure that would make it more difficult for future city administrations to abolish the office that oversees discipline for Denver’s police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
Now, the entire city council would consider the proposal on Aug. 15. If approved, voters would be asked in November to vote on whether the independent monitor’s office should be covered by the city charter.
The monitor is appointed by the mayor. Besides overseeing police and sheriff discipline, the office has a staff of attorneys and analysts who make recommendations for law enforcement policies and serve as a liaison between the community and the police and sheriff’s departments.
The proposal has support from community groups such as the Denver Justice Project, which is planning an Aug. 15 teach-in about the monitor’s office and charter amendments on the east steps of the City and County Building. It will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Alex Landau, a justice project co-founder, said the watchdog is the only independent voice when it comes to overseeing complaints into police misconduct and abuse.
“If it only exists in an ordinance, that means the mayor or any future mayor could get rid of the office without public input,” Landau said. “Putting it in the charter makes it harder to do so.”
That’s because charter changes must be ballot measures. City Council can change ordinances.
The change was recommended in 2015 by two independent consultants who .
