A bill to move two offices that monitor Denver police into the City Charter unanimously passed a City Council vote Monday night, paving the way for a charter amendment to go before voters in November.
Bill 567-16, by Councilman Paul Lopez, is an effort to “improve citizen oversight and re-establish trust between community and local law enforcement,” a media release by the councilman’s office said.
Denver voters will decide whether the Office of the Independent Monitor and Citizen Oversight Board should be made permanent in Denver’s charter.
“Once established in charter, only a vote of the people would allow for both the office and board to be dissolved,” the release said.
The monitor and board review complaints of excessive force as well as other police, sheriff and fire department matters.
“Citizen oversight is essential to Denver’s public safety,” Lopez said in the release. “It empowers both community and law enforcement to work together and establish trust to prevent crime in our city.”