Civilian watchdog slams DPD's disciplinary overhaul
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The city's civilian law enforcement watchdog fiercely denounced the Denver Police Department's proposed shift to a less punitive disciplinary process, calling it a "not-so-veiled" attempt to eliminate accountability.
The big picture: If approved, the changes would fundamentally reshape how officers face discipline, replacing traditional punitive measures like reprimands with training in most cases.
- Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas has personally advocated for the changes.
Why it matters: Independent monitor Liz Castle suggested DPD's plan lacks transparency, kneecaps her office's ability to provide oversight and erodes public trust in Colorado's largest police department.
Context: Her public rebuke came during a rare Denver City Council committee meeting visit on Wednesday.
- Castle's opinion carries significant weight, because her office oversees public and internal complaints regarding local law enforcement and makes policy and disciplinary recommendations.
How it works: Called education-based discipline or development (EBD), the proposed approach focuses on training to address misconduct, Castle said.
- However, she added there are no best practices for EBD, and research doesn't indicate retraining lowers officer recidivism. There's also little evidence that it's a stronger deterrent than traditional discipline, or that it makes the public or officers safer.
The other side: EBD "does not remove accountability, but rather helps officers understand their mistakes, while teaching them the proper method to handle the issue," DPD said in a statement to Axios Denver.
Flashback: The current police disciplinary system adopted in 2008 included input from the public, police personnel, city management and legal advisers, Castle said.
- The public has yet to see a draft of the newly proposed policies, Castle added — though her office has received a copy.
What's next: Council members want to continue discussing the proposal and suggested inviting Thomas to a meeting to discuss it.