Police Discipline Plan a Strong Step Forward

EDITORIAL Police discipline plan a strong step forward A proposal to define levels of severity for Denver officer misconduct might bypass the current roadblock to appropriate punishment in serious cases

Denver Post Jan 14, 2006, pg. C.15

A proposal to replace Denver's precedent-based police discipline system with a structure that includes different levels of severity for officer misconduct sounds promising - and we hope it's not derailed by a clause in the city charter that doomed previous reform efforts.

Safety Manager Al LaCabe believes that the proposal won't require a charter change or City Council action because the goal is to provide consistency in police discipline. His optimism is admirable.

The city's comparative discipline policy bars penalties 'inconsistent with discipline received by other members of the department under similar circumstances.' As applied by the Civil Service Commission, it's worked as a roadblock to meaningful punishment in serious cases.

LaCabe's 10-month suspension of Officer James Turney in the fatal shooting of mentally disabled teen Paul Childs in July 2003 was reduced to five days and a one-day fine.

Officer Ranjan Ford Jr.'s 90-day suspension for fatally shooting Frank Lobato as he sat in bed in July 2004 was negotiated down to a 50-day suspension this past week.

'We're going to try and do this,' said City Attorney Cole Finegan. 'If somebody takes it to court (and prevails), then we'll take a look at changing the charter.'

The administration is trying a fresh approach: An 80-member task force formed more than a year ago includes the Denver Police Protective Association.

That's 'absolutely' a positive factor, LaCabe believes.

Also on board are police from 'across the department,' Civil Service people, new city police monitor Richard Rosenthal, citizens and academics.

The proposal would be use a four- or five-level set of punishments. The scale would begin with minor offenses such as tardiness and move up to more serious infractions.

Other cities, including Tucson, have used such a 'matrix' for years.

Noting that the proposal is still being refined, union president Mike Mosco voiced concerns about possible inflexibility that wouldn't take into account such factors as an officer's previously unblemished record. 'We're all human, and we all make mistakes,' he said.

Those are valid concerns, but the plan, to be outlined next week for the City Council, looks like a good answer to a long-standing problem that has driven a wedge between police and some parts of the community.