Coverup Probe Of Denver Top Cops Goes To Sheriff

DENVER, CO -- A months-long independent investigation into whether Denver Police top brass deliberately covered-up a letter critical of the department has been completed and passed onto the Denver Sheriff's Conduct Review Office, a spokesperson for the Denver Dept. of Public safety confirmed Friday. The probe is just one element of an ongoing conflict between the Denver Police Protective Assn., the union representing the DPD's rank and file officers, and department higher-ups, specifically Chief Robert White. About half of the union's members participated in a "no confidence" vote aimed at the chief in October.

The third-party investigation followed a ruling by District Attorney Beth McCann that neither Chief White nor Deputy Chief Matt Murray had criminal intent when the department heads claimed that a letter from former DA Mitch Morrissey criticizing a 2016 arrest didn't exist in a Colorado Open Records Act request from the union. McCann blamed sloppy record-keeping on the part of police administrators.

The arrest in question happened in May, 2016, when a victim reportedly told another police agency that she had been sexually assaulted by now-former Denver police officer Davin Munk and Angiella Arnot. Arnot was held in solitary confinement for three days, she told reporters from Channel 7 News, then all charges were dropped against her.

Deputy Chief Murray, who was reportedly out of town when Arnot was arrested, insisted that the arrest was based on "probable cause."

Morrissey criticized the DPD in a letter for not following a policy that let prosecutors and officers collaborate on charging suspects. He called Arnot's arrest and confinement "completely unwarranted" and "subjected her to public ridicule and embarrassment."

When the union got wind of the letter, they asked for a copy from the DPD administrative offices via the Colorado Open Records Act, and twice received a reply that the document did not exist. A copy of the letter from the DA's office was produced via CORA in January.

DA McMann's investigation of the alleged coverup of the letter's existence included statements from Mary Dulacki, the records coordinator for the Denver Department of Safety, who said that her records request process can only be as good as “the integrity and honesty of the people I deal with,” then opined, “This is clearly deception.”

The third-party investigation of the alleged coverup was requested by the Denver Dept. of Public Safety.

The sheriff's office will review the findings and determine whether Deputy Chief Murray violated department policies. There will be a separate review Chief Robert White, the Dept. of Public Safety said.
"The [Conduct Review Office] would normally not be involved in the review of conduct by a political appointee like Chief White. However, in this case, the CRO will review the investigation for matters that apply to his conduct and organize it in a manner that can be presented for mayoral review with input from the Executive Director of Safety."

The Public Safety Department may recommend the two police administrators face some kind of discipline, and Mayor Michael Hancock may be asked to weigh in.

Hancock appointed White in 2011, claiming White's approach would change the culture of the Denver police. The relationship between the chief and some of the rank-and-file has been abrasive for several years, particularly with PPA President Nick Rogers.

White appears to be trying to move on from his Denver post. He applied, and was a finalist, for the job of police chief in Washington DC, in February, but didn't get an offer.

Hancock defended White after the October no confidence vote in a statement, saying, “After six years of the same message from the union, I am not surprised by the PPA’s opposition to Chief White’s efforts to change the Denver Police Department’s long-held culture, but continue to believe it’s the right move for Denver.
“I can tell you that when I speak to our officers, I hear a much different story than the one spun by the PPA today. I continue to hold great confidence in Chief White and our police officers to protect the health and safety of our people.”

See Channel7's coverage of the alleged coverup by Denver PD brass here.

Image: Denver Police Chief Robert White speaks to reporters after a November bank robbery in Denver. Courtesy: Denver Police Dept. Twitter feed.