How we – Denver Sheriff Department (DSD) employees – approach what we do is critical, not just to the overall success of the Denver Sheriff Department, but also our individual achievements. Because the work we do is in service to others, we bear a great responsibility to one another, and those in our care, to lead with our humanity. We are a proud department with a tradition of Dedication, Service, and Duty – as we move forward, we will continue to embrace the Dual Mindset of Humanity and Freedom in our work.
The Dual Mindset is as follows:
“We LEAD with our HUMANITY” – this sentiment should be instilled in everything we do. Every DSD employee should recognize that we are in a profession where we must display our humanity in all our actions, including the way we use force. From the way we treat and speak to one another, the public, and those in our custody, everything must be guided by our humanity. When we lead and end our actions in this way, we can be confident that they are done thoughtfully.
“The deprivation of a person’s FREEDOM is their punishment.” It is not our responsibility to punish anyone while they are in our custody. The people in the community we serve should be confident that those in our custody will not be mistreated. Even when someone violates a rule while in our facilities, our responsibility is to correct their behavior, not to punish. We will ensure the conditions of our facilities go beyond conventional means and represent the best practices in our field.