Police and Sheriff Civilian Oversight

For decades, tension has existed between the public and the Police and Sheriff Departments — fracturing the trust placed in the departments that are intended to protect and serve the public. The Monitor’s Office has a responsibility to ensure sworn personnel are appropriately investigated and addressed when misconduct occurs to ensure accountability and to increase community trust.

FINDING 1 – Conflicting mandates and a perceived conflict of interest limits transparency and accountability

• Denver Charter and city ordinance direct the Monitor’s Office to publicly report on recommendations it makes on investigations of officer and deputy misconduct cases, disciplinary actions, and policy reviews. However, a conflicting mandate prevents the Monitor’s Office from including those recommendations in its public reports. It also significantly limited what we could audit.

FINDING 2 – The Monitor’s Office is not comprehensively reporting on the timeliness of misconduct investigations

• Police and Sheriff Departments misconduct investigations are made up of multiple phases that contribute to the timeliness of an investigation. The Monitor’s Office is only reporting on a portion of the discipline review process.

FINDING 3 – The Monitor’s Office’s record keeping does not differentiate between mandatory and discretionary case reviews

• There are certain cases the Monitor’s Office is required to review. But without tracking this information, the office cannot demonstrate its compliance with city ordinance and this may be affecting the office’s ability to effectively prioritize its workload.

FINDING 4 – The Monitor’s Office’s does not have a formalized strategic plan

• Without one, it is unclear how the Monitor’s Office will efficiently and effectively meet its oversight responsibilities.

1.1 Determine and document whether requirements can be met – The Office of the Independent Monitor should:

• Determine whether it can fulfill the city charter and city ordinance requirements to publicly share recommendations for investigations, discipline, and policy reviews.
• Document its considerations, conclusions, and any limitations related to the deliberative process privilege.

If needed, work with the Citizen Oversight Board and the City Council to clarify its authority, responsibility, and limitations in city charter and city ordinance.

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – March 31, 2026

1.2 Reevaluate policy – The Office of the Independent Monitor should reevaluate whether its policy of submitting its public reports to the City Attorney’s Office for review is required, documenting its considerations, and its conclusions. This may include exercising its chartered right to obtain an opinion from independent legal counsel.

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – March 31, 2026

2.1 Publicly report investigation timeliness – The Office of the Independent Monitor should conduct a comprehensive timeliness analysis of the review process and include it in its annual report. This analysis should include a breakdown of time spent on each phase and party involved. 

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – March 15, 2026

3.1 Update database and track results – The Office of the Independent Monitor should, at a minimum, update its database to include a data field to distinguish between mandatory and discretionary case reviews and track the results in its regular internal reporting.

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – March 31, 2026

4.1 Develop a strategic plan – The Office of the Independent Monitor should develop and publish a strategic plan that establishes a mission, vision, and strategic goals for the office, including developing metrics to track progress toward those goals.

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – June 30, 2026

4.2 Implement the strategic plan – The Office of the Independent Monitor should implement the strategic plan from Recommendation 4.1 by identifying action plans, assigning roles and responsibilities, identifying timelines, and monitoring progress.

Office of the Independent Monitor – Agree, Implementation Date – Sept. 30, 2026