Loss of Privacy

Officer Devin Sparks and Cpl. Randy Murr have been fired in connection with a 2009 beating of a man that was, thankfully, videotaped.

Sparks was caught on videotape throwing Michael DeHerrera to the ground as DeHerrera talked on a cellphone. The video then shows Sparks repeatedly beating him with a department-issued sap, a piece of metal wrapped in leather.

While this may come as good news because the right outcome was chosen, the back story should not lead anyone to think that the Denver police department is going to change anytime soon.

The Denver district attorney’s office reviewed the case and declined to file criminal charges.

Denver police internal affairs division then conducted its own investigation, which was sent to then-Safety Manager Ron Perea.

Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal recommended firing both officers for filing inaccurate reports, not for excessive force. A deputy police chief recommended they be suspended.

Read that again and let it sink in. The district attorney didn’t want to file charges. The police internal affairs division only thought they should be fired for filing inaccurate reports. The deputy police chief only recommended they be suspended. No one, from the DA to the police chief thought excessive force should be a concern.

Fortunately, with the uproar and pressure from the public, the case was reopened and the right decision was made. Perea was forced to resign over the matter, which led to the reopening of the case. It’s a good first start, but it will be a long time before most Denver residents will respect and trust the police department again.

From 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.