A Denver Police Department officer was suspended this week for 60 days without pay for using excessive force and then misleading internal investigators about what happened during the incident.
Officer David Briggs, who has been with the department since 2013, received consecutive 30-day suspensions for each violation, according to a copy of his disciplinary letter obtained by The Denver Post through an open records request.
Briggs went to help another officer who was chasing a suspect on foot after the suspect allegedly refused to comply with commands during a stop, the letter said.
Briggs joined the chase as the man ran east toward an RTD platform at West 14th Avenue and North Federal Boulevard, the letter stated. After the man reached the security fence, he climbed over it and was hanging onto the top with his right hand. Briggs then kicked the fence, forcing the suspect to the ground and causing injury.
Briggs wrote in a statement following the incident that he was running toward the security fence and put his foot up to stop himself.
“This statement was inaccurate and misleading, as the (body worn camera) footage clearly shows that Officer Briggs intentionally kicked the fence, thereby dislodging the suspect’s hold on the fence,” the disciplinary letter stated.
Agency officials also determined that Briggs used inappropriate force when he kicked the fence, resulting in the suspect falling several feet and becoming injured, “because it was ‘substantially contrary to the values of the Department … [and] it involve[d] a demonstrable risk … to public safety.'”
Briggs’ history within the past seven years includes another inappropriate force violation when he kneed a suspect who already in custody.
The officer accepted the disciplinary action, according to the letter, which waives any other disciplinary processes on the incident. His suspension will continue through March 6.
