Denver officials clash over police discipline after brutal video release
By Christopher N. Osher
The Denver Post
Denver officials are deeply divided over the proper level of punishment for a police officer who was seen on video tackling and beating a 23-year-old man who was doing nothing but talking on a telephone outside a LoDo nightclub.
The video of Officer Devin Sparks repeatedly hitting Michael DeHerrera of Denver with a department-issued piece of metal wrapped in leather, picking him up roughly and slamming a car door on his ankle has prompted Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal to push for the firing of Sparks and Corporal Randy Murr.
Rosenthal, who monitors police internal investigations, maintains Sparks and Murr are unfit for the force because they didn't tell the truth about the April 4, 2009 incident. Rosenthal also believes the use of force by Sparks was excessive. The Denver City Council earlier this year agreed to pay $17,500 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by DeHerrera alleging excessive force.
DeHerrera, in interviews, has described police as beating him unconscious. He said he woke up in a hospital bed, with stitches in his head, and a swollen head. He said he later was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome.
"The video was so important because it showed everything that happened, regardless of reports or what's filled out," DeHerrera said in an interview. "The video speaks more than any of those words can."
He added: "I don't swing. I don't blade. I'm on the phone. The only thing I hold onto is my phone. When I go down, I'm out, and that's when he continues to 'get my compliance.'"
The incident was filmed by the police department's own High Activity Location Observation video surveillance system. Video released to the news media by the department shows DeHerrera doing nothing but talking on his phone with his father, a sheriff's deputy in Pueblo.
Standard union operation, "sure our guys had some trouble with a kid and maybe went a little too far... Hey, they got fired too so why is it a big deal, they gotta work too ya know."
I'm curious to know if they are currently patrolling the streets or if they have been assigned to a role that better suits their demonstrated skill set such as public relations or victim's assistants.
I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.
"Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the Government take care of him; better take a closer look at the American Indian." - Henry Ford
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges; When the Republic is at its most corrupt the laws are most numerous. - Publius Cornelius Tacitus
What if you or I were the ones doing the beating? Where do you think we would be? Jail. How long??? Good old Boy syndrome doesn't cut it. Let justice (blind) prevail by forgetting they are cops. This was simply assault with a deadly weapon. Agreed. THey need to be jailed.
otisptoadwater wrote: Standard union operation, "sure our guys had some trouble with a kid and maybe went a little too far... Hey, they got fired too so why is it a big deal, they gotta work too ya know."
I'm curious to know if they are currently patrolling the streets or if they have been assigned to a role that better suits their demonstrated skill set such as public relations or victim's assistants.
