http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18991481

Denver tentatively reaches settlement in one police-brutality lawsuit
By John Ingold
The Denver Post
Posted: 09/28/2011 01:00:00 AM MDT


Denver city attorneys have agreed to settle an excessive-force lawsuit that would have required them to reveal unprecedented details on years' worth of police-brutality investigations.

But the settlement does not appear to have gotten the city out of the obligation to hand over the documents. Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge John Kane — who had previously demanded that the city produce the documents in the lawsuit — ordered the city to hand them over in a separate excessive-force case. City officials have said that meeting such an order would take thousands of hours of staff time and cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The proposed settlement — in the lawsuit of Jason Graber, who claims Denver Officer Shawn Miller wrongfully roughed him up — is currently confidential. It must still be approved by Denver's City Council at its Oct. 3 meeting, where details will be made public. One of Graber's attorneys, David Lane, said he has asked to address the council at the meeting to urge members to create more transparency of abuse investigations.

"That is not a private personnel matter; that is a public trust matter," Lane said of excessive-force complaints. "Even if the complaint is as illegitimate and unfounded as it can possibly be, it should still be open to the public. And the results of the investigation should be open to the public."

Denver City Attorney Doug Friednash said he couldn't comment on the settlement before it is approved by the council.

Graber's attorneys said they needed the massive trove of documents — eight years' worth of police excessive-force complaints and all details on the follow-up investigations — to try to prove their allegation that the department condones a culture of brutality. Kane ordered the city to hand over the documents, then angrily threatened fines when he said the city was stalling, a characterization the city denied.

On Monday, Kane ordered that the documents requested in Graber's case must also be turned over in the case of James Moore, who alleges Miller also beat him.

go to copwatch denver and injustice everywhere

HOLY COW.

Denver has the worst record of any large city in the entire country, 10 times the average rate of compaints for a large city!!

I guess it's not just my imagination. Denver cops really ARE assholes.

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City officials have said that meeting such an order would take thousands of hours of staff time and cost tens of thousands of dollars.

What a bunch of lying jerks. And again it is going to "cost ...". Like they really give a crap about spending taxpayer money.

Cutting into doughnut time maybe but why do they care about the money? Not everyone gets another new car next year?

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copwatch denver

I took a look at this video, and I feel sorry for you colorado people. I found that the police where overly tolerant in that there are laws and charges to deal will people who are interfering with police carrying out a lawful procedure, There is such a thing of obstruction of justice and interference of process which applies when police are interfered with. Interference occurs when you for whatever reason cause a LE from carrying out his job. Asking ridiculous questions that aren't appropriate like whats your name your badge number what are you internal affairs?. When the police are dispatched they are giving orders of what needs to be accomplished and they know the parameters of what they can and can't do so giving them a hard time is like peeing in the wind, find out who gave the order, the police are just doing their job. Police are or should be well trained on the use of force if they overstep their boundaries they should have to answer, no different than these do-gooders getting in their way.
You have a problem with what they are doing are country is based on laws and the enforcement of those laws. Proper protocol, first in line would be the shift commander, if not the next in command all the way up to the Chief of Police, if that doesn't work then the Police commission, Mayor, states attorney Governor Us Attorney all the way to the supreme court. Harassing the police because you think your a do gooder is a shame, the cop you are standing in front may like you there since a bullet or rock intended for him might get stopped by you. Police are accountable keep harassing them and they will be hesitant to do their jobs and then where did you end up it is no different than your boss standing over you while you are working, is that a good situation?. These trivial do-gooders should get their act together and becomes the police of the future and see if they can make the difference or get elected to higher offices and make changes.

Trust me I am all for both sides since that is how things are kept in check, but it has to be done intelligently not with a bunch of do-gooder running around with videos, your gonna get someone hurt.

If you have been wronged get an attorney, the courts will force PD's to produce the records otherwise the court will issue a search warrant to get them. This happens quite regularly in some of the suburbs in Chicago, with all these affirmative action plans and relaxation of recruit requirements quiet a few gang members are wearing uniforms and protecting there buddies in crime. Chgo PD even had a female Sergeant protecting her son who was one of the biggest drug dealers, she would tip them off if she hear of any Police action she is serving Life imprisonment for her work.

why dont you try getting up to speed with what has been going on in this country for years. you sound like either a complete idiot or most likely an asshole cop. go to injustice everywhere and read it for a week

Why don't you keep you language on a level with everyone else, all you show what an educational and sociologically failure to society you are. Do you think people want to hear your language, if you disagree then disagree intelligently if that is possible, if not when you grow up or wise up come on down to my next of the woods and tell it to my face instead of being a internet tough guy, I will give you my address just show up no reservation needed.

Folks, I don't know, or really care, who this raamw is, however, if he is a cop he is simply baiting us for some reason, go back and read his posts, Im not sure he is even an ex cop. If he is, it appears that he is remorseful for past wrongs and is trying to justify them.

Just put him on ignore. A lot of other people have already done so.

George

I am stating fact, you pick on people who are following orders, why not those that make the orders. If a cop goes past the limit that the courts allowed he will and should be accountable, however LE are given a certain amount of leeway otherwise they can't do there jobs and the courts recognize this. LE are allowed reasonable force to perform there jobs.
I speak from experience, do I have all the answers..no, I see you people take info from an unknown source as gossip, you take video as the best evidence which shows me you are clearly in a world of your own.
Please continue via private mail

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Denver city attorneys have agreed to settle an excessive-force lawsuit

Rahm, they must of done something wrong, or they wouldn't have settled.

Now I must ask WHO ARE YOU TO TELL US HOW TO CONTINUE A CONVERSATION? THIS IS AMERICA WE STILL HAVE A FIRST AMENDMENT SO WE WILL CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION ANY WAY WE CHOOSE COP.

Just what I have said all along, don't take sides with the street lawyers and want to bees , the court system will prevail, you can stall but the judge will force the issue. Just like if someone sells you something that he does not deliver or somehow misrepresented, you can threaten a law suit all you want but once they get a letter from your lawyer stating you will be instituting a law suit and all appropriate lawyer and court fees will be accessed most people won't take you serious.
Now the important thing is what changes will be instituted and what reprimand to LE involved come about as a results of this, alot of times suits are settled on the quiet for no other reason than to keep the settlement or condition of settlement secret, and in my opinion that is wrong

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you take video as the best evidence which shows me you are clearly in a world of your own.

So, I'm supposed to belive the cop who's statements are contridicted by the video??

These cops told one story....until they found out there was video....and they started to tell a different one....That's why they are now "former" DPD.

Part of Denver's problem lies with the Police Union. Department Management intended to begin review dash cams on a regular basis inorder to begin provide quality control of the service their department provides to the public. The Union blocked this action, insisting they Management is only able to review tape after a civilian complaint is lodged against an officer. If you ask a Denver cop for a supervisor guess what happens, They pepper spray you. At least, that's what the tape show.
Ask for a sup and you get sprayed, sups can't review tape, and alot of it just "disapprears".
Kind of hard to be a supervior when you can't supervise.

It is human nature to try and cover up a wrong, it is not right but that is what happens, people in positions of public trust are held to a higher standard than the general public. This occurs since police normally get the benefit of doubt, like a championship fight, the challenger has to beat him substantially more than in any other fight. It would be interesting to see what is done to not only the cops that lied but those that covered up. We had a suburban PD that was so corrupt the US Attorney office stepped in and had all terminated and the State Police where brought in till a new force could get up and running, perhaps that is what is needed in Colorado.
There is nothing gained by arguing with a cop, go to the nearest PD and request to meet with an Internal Affairs officer, take a witness with you and request a copy of any and all files generated from your contact. All departments has internal Affairs, if your not satisfied go to the states Attorney office of investigation and file a complaint there, if that doesnt work then the US Attorney Office.

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US Attorney office stepped in and had all terminated and the State Police where brought in till a new force could get up and running, perhaps that is what is needed in Colorado

Police brutality was one of the top issues in the last Denver Mayoral election. The Chief of Saftey was fired, and replaced by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. I think you are right that they may need to disolve the entire department to get rid of the corrupt local union. Reform it with a slightly different name, and a NO UNION clause. Build a culture of accountability, let the Supervisors and Management do their job, let citizen tape/record any non-undercover officer on the job (i.e make them accountable to The People), give some teath to the citizen review committee, and maditory jail time for any officer that messes with dashcams, citizen taping them, ect. We have some good departments in this neck of the woods. With the right kind of policies, Denver could be just as good.

I don't agree with taping police doing their jobs, cops come on the force with the highest standards for the most part, it is the culture within the department that eventually reduces these standards and lead way for corruption. I can't believe the FBI hasn't been involved, we have over 400 agents in chicago and believe me a lot of them are detailed to public corruption

Every Financial service/insurance/customer service rep in this country is taped. All they can do is loose you money. Cops have guns and the power cause you physical harm, so I feel taping is appropriate. FBI did a good job cleaning out New Orleans, and Peurto Rico. I think you are right that Denver could use a little of their help.

I once saw police searching apartments at a complex. took me a minute to figure out why one cop went around to each car and lifted all the hoods. No video evidence. How does that inspire trust?

I routinely checked under hoods, gas caps, on top of tires and I wasn't looking for cameras, that is a normal hiding place for guns money drugs and whatever hoping a cop or other criminal trying to ripe them off wouldn't look farther than the inside or the trunk, means nothing

Rahm, he went to every car and lifted the hood.
In your experience, what are the chances that was covered under the Warrent?

My bad. I should have been more specific. The only hoods lifted and remained open where on the police cars

Thats a different story time for a Kodak moment, a cop that does that is obviusly violating the purpose for the camera and should be accountable for that, but a smart cop would point the car in a different direction, or go headlight to headlight with an other squad must be newbies or dummies

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Originally posted by griz78:
My bad. I should have been more specific. The only hoods lifted and remained open where on the police cars

Would that block the cameras?

YES if the camera was a dash or visor camera, no if it was in the grill