Citizen Oversight Board Announces Independent Monitor Finalists

DENVER, CO —The Citizen Oversight Board (COB) on Wednesday announced the three finalists for the vacant independent monitor position, whose job is to oversee law enforcement discipline and provide feedback about the operations of the Denver Police Department and Denver Sheriff's Department.

This will mark the first time the COB —comprised of nine Denver residents —will be choosing the independent monitor position after voters granted it that right during the 2021 election. The new independent monitor still will need the approval of the city council, the Denver Post reported.

The new independent monitor will replace Nick Mitchell, who left the position in December 2020 to take a job monitoring conditions in the Los Angeles County jails.

In the past, the independent monitor position was appointed by the mayor.

The three finalists for the independent monitor position are:

• Robert Booth II: The Denver resident is an assistant deputy attorney general in the Colorado Attorney General's Office, leading the office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, according to the office's website.
• Joseph Lipari: The Boulder resident has worked as an independent monitor in Boulder since 2020 and has held oversight positions in Chicago and New York.
• Dana Walton-Macaulay: A Portland resident who is the deputy director of the Independent Police Review, Portland's police oversight agency, according to the Denver Post.

Prior to the selection of the new independent monitor, the COB will host two virtual sessions that will give community members a chance to get to know the candidates.

• From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, a session will be co-hosted with members of the advocacy and faith-based communities. The Zoom link is here.
• From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, a session will be co-hosted with members of the service provider community. The Zoom link is here.

At these sessions, community members will have a chance to learn more about the candidates, ask them questions, and provide feedback to the DOB. The board is soliciting questions from the community ahead of these sessions. Community members can email those questions to COB@denvergov.corg.

The COB also said that next week, it will share a video featuring each of the finalists responding to questions. Residents who are unable to attend either of the Zoom sessions are encouraged to watch the video and share any feedback, according to the board.