DENVER — The Denver Office of the Independent Monitor (OIM) announced Thursday morning that it had accepted an unanimous call from Denver City Council to investigate the police department’s approach to recent demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd's death.
In a letter sent to Independent Monitor Nick Mitchell Friday, all 13 councilmembers asked for OIM to "undertake an in-depth analysis and review of Denver Police Department’s exercise of their duties at the above-mentioned demonstrations."
The OIM responded in a letter dated Thursday, saying the office had accepted the request.
The OIM said it will evaluate the Denver Police Department’s use of physical force, chemical agents, riot gear, surplus military equipment and more. In addition, the OIM will examine how police handled community complaints regarding alleged officer misconduct.
The letter from OIM goes to explain that the investigation will require the office to gather hundreds — if not thousands — of hours of HALO footage, body-worn camera footage, radio transmissions and videos from the community. Staff also plan to interview command staff, line officers and community members.
“While I expect the investigation to be time and labor intensive, I assure you that our small staff will move expeditiously, and we have already drafted our first request for documents and information, which we will issue to the DPD shortly,” the OIM letter reads.
Denver’s OIM monitors the disciplinary systems of the Denver Police Department and Denver Sheriff Department, and reviews internal investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and policies and practices.
The OIM is led by Mitchell and advised by the Citizen Oversight Board.