Denver police's witness-description computer system under fire - The Denver Post 2/28/12 3:33 PM Newsletter: Sign In | Register Commenting: Sign In | Register February 28, 2012 1 HOME | MEDIA KIT | SIGN UP FOR BREAKING NEWS EMAIL ALERTS | PHOTO GALLERIES News Politics Sports Business Entertainment Lifestyles Opinion Travel Your Hub Shopping Autos Real Estate Jobs Classifieds WEEKLY AD SPECIALS FROM THE DENVER POST Search Site Home > Denver & the West POPULAR TALKERS RECOMMENDED YEAR AGO COPS AND COURTS PRINT EMAIL Photos: NBA Cheerleaders Denver police's witness-description computer 29 COMMENTS Photos: The Broncos cheerleaders calendar Auction of Green Gables golf club items ends system under fire today By Jessica Fender POSTED: 02/15/2012 01:00:00 AM MST Apple announces event, iPad 3 launch expected The Denver Post UPDATED: 02/15/2012 08:18:16 AM MST Bill would increase disclosures by Colorado homeowners associations Witness descriptions of criminal suspects are often overwritten in computer records to reflect Oil prices slip, while gas climbs to national average of $3.70 the descriptions of suspects later taken into custody by police, a Denver detective testified Developers envision an 'airport city' around DIA recently. Horror stories prompt industry group to ask Colorado to regulate HOA man Defense attorneys say the system's flaws hide potentially exculpatory evidence, but the Denver Parker: Fodor's puts Denver on the map with its Police Department denied that any evidence is intentionally overwritten or withheld. top 10 list Detroit automakers adding thousands of workers as sales surge Police spokesman Lt. Matt Murray on Tuesday said the detective who testified misunderstood how the computer record system works, and Murray promised a departmentwide refresher course on how to take and preserve witness statements. Subscribe to our Afternoon Newsletter "We have some inconsistencies we need to address in the department. We're clearly not doing it Email Address right all the time," Subscribe Murray said. "It's an officer's duty to report their observations. BLOG: THE RAP SHEET We feel strongly about getting that right." » See a sample afternoon newsletter here Murray couldn't say how frequently such problems may occur. FRONT PAGE Some Colorado lawmakers' daily-expense increase Some defense attorneys believe these mistakes are intentional. stirs controversy Race, ethnicity, neighborhoods draw attention in redistricting of Denver council seats Inaccurate or incomplete information from police, they say, Colorado post offices see increase in marijuana affects a prosecutor's ability to determine whether to pursue packages charges and the ability of the accused to build effective defenses. Teen gunman kills 1 student, wounds 4 at Ohio high school; motive unknown "Their method is completely flawed," said Michael Sheehan, a FRONT PAGE: LOCAL NEWS The Denver Post's crime and courts Denver defense attorney. "Who knows how many people's due- Prosecutors in Limon cop killing: Abused wife reporters take you beyond the press wanted man dead release in this blog, with stories about process rights have been violated?" crooks, cops and kooks. Dance workshops bring 1930s Balboa back to life for dancers in Denver He said he discovered the discrepancies "by accident" during a Murphy: More days might solve DPS school daze trial in December — and quickly became alarmed. 17,000 Coloradans receive flawed voter registration cards from D.C.-based group Sheehan was representing 25-year-old Marcus Montoya in an Arapahoe County burglary case. FRONT PAGE: BUSINESS NEWS Parker: Fodor's puts Denver on the map with its top Prosecutors brought up Montoya's conviction — along with two other men — in a 2009 burglary 10 list in Denver, intending to show a criminal pattern. Like Wyoming, Utah finds high wintertime ozone http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19966854 Page 1 of 7 Denver police's witness-description computer system under fire - The Denver Post 2/28/12 3:33 PM in Denver, intending to show a criminal pattern. Like Wyoming, Utah finds high wintertime ozone pollution near oil, gas wells Colorado companies are elevating the Lake Tahoe In that case, a Denver woman told police she caught a brief glimpse of three Hispanic men as ski area with big investments they fled her home after a break-in. Southwest Airlines opening crew base in Denver At trial, Sheehan questioned Denver Detective Robin Gray and discovered the victim's original description of the three suspects had vanished from his 2009 police report. But after further investigation by prosecutors and Sheehan, the Denver woman's original description came to light. The discovery of the missing evidence resulted in a mistrial. Montoya, already imprisoned on an unrelated charge, has since struck a plea agreement, resulting in no additional prison time. "It was exculpatory. She said, 'The guy I saw was Mexican,' " Sheehan said. "His last name is Montoya, but he looks like a typical white guy." On the witness stand, Gray described a 5-year-old electronic report system in which witnesses' first-blush descriptions are routinely overwritten to reflect descriptions of the suspects police later take into custody. "Obviously, we are going through some growing pains and still have problems," Gray said, according to court transcripts. "Once the detective gets it, as information is updated and clarified and verified, then the information ... in that computer system gets changed and updated and verified." Gray at first said there was no way to track those changes. He later told investigators that the Recent Activity department's Information Management Unit had never before tried to access and export logs of changes. Login You need to be logged into Facebook to see your friends' recent activity. Murray said that may have been Gray's understanding of the VersaDex system, but it's not Colorado welfare debit cards used at accurate. casinos, strip clubs - The Denver Post 197 people recommend this. When a detective edits a report, VersaDex generates a somewhat cryptic log — Sheehan Colorado welfare debit cards used at casinos, strip clubs - The Denver Post described it as "gibberish" — noting who made the change, when the change was made and what 62 people recommend this. the original entry indicated. Colorado post offices see increase in marijuana packages - The Denver Post Those reports should be turned over to attorneys prosecuting and defending cases, although 39 people recommend this. Murray admitted this isn't always the case. Facebook social plugin Officers also should avoid losing original suspect descriptions by writing them into the narrative section of reports, which are less likely to be changed, Murray said. MOST POPULAR: NEWS: PAST 3 DAYS Gray indicated in court that he understood department policy to be the opposite. Two Colorado women who risked their lives for "In this case, there was a training issue," Murray said. strangers, ending up paral While there's no cure, new drugs have made the Civil-rights attorney David Lane said he plans to take a look at the situation. He doesn't believe a feared disease recede far training issue is to blame and threatened litigation. Snowboarder from Tampa killed at Keystone today; 14th death this season "These guys aren't stupid. They understand how the system works," Lane said. "When a cop Two killed in Boulder car crash falsifies police reports, it's a crime. If we can make a case against the Denver Police Department Man killed by Englewood police convicted in '97 racially motivated killing of Oumar Di on this, I will go after them as hard as I can." Brother stabbed by brother dies Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or [email protected] Colorado Springs jury convicts woman in dragging death of tow-truck driv Follow Jessica Fender on Twitter. Man killed walking on I-70 near Castle Rock Denver church becomes a total blessing for homeless PRINT EMAIL RETURN TO TOP » GET HOME DELIVERY » TERMS OF USE women http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19966854 Page 2 of 7 Denver police's witness-description computer system under fire - The Denver Post 2/28/12 3:33 PM LIKE THIS ARTICLE? RECOMMEND IT (2 REC'S) ALL READER-RECOMMENDED NEWS Fire out in Denver's West Highland neighborhood, north of West 32nd Aven TOP VIDEO Language Secret Revealed Prosecutor: School Some 9/11 Remains Death Toll Rises to 3 Shooter Chose R... Went to Landfill in Ohio School ... RECOMMENDED FOR YOU Colorado post offices see increase in marijuana... -- SPONSORED LINK -- NJ Teacher Creates Game to Teach About the American Revolution (From DailyMe.com) Post Poll - Legalize Pot An initiative to legalize limited possession of ARTICLE COMMENTS (29) Login | Sign Up | Email Support marijuana in Colorado for adults has become the first measure to qualify for the November ballot -- read a Is your comment not appearing on the article? Read this. related article. Are you in favor of legalizing limited possession of marijuana in Colorado? You must be registered to comment (your comment will be saved for you while you register). It's quick (it takes about 30 seconds) and we only require your email and name. Comments that include any Yes offensive material are prohibited. By using our site you agree to our terms of use. No » View all this article's 29 comments I don't know. Vote! 1. Use the "Report Abuse" link when necessary (you don't have to be a member, or be logged in) 2. Keep it clean and respect others — don't use language you wouldn't use with your parents 3. Read the Post's Article Commenting Ground Rules here (link will open in a new window) TOGGLE: OLDEST FIRST NEWEST FIRST ALLEN E H 12 days ago JINX wrote: ALLEN E wrote:Three times now there has been talk about bringing in the feds.
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