-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- http://InsideDenver.com/news/0130mena2.shtml No-knock is latest bad press for police Webb comes to defense of troubled department By Kevin VaughanDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer Allegations that high-ranking Denver police officers tried to pressure a subordinate into misleading investigators looking into a fatal police shooting is the latest in a string of black eyes for the department. In addition to the "no-knock" raid that left a man dead, the Denver Police Department has recently come under fire for police using their guns to beat suspects after a car chase and for hiring a recruit who admitted extensive drug use. Add to that gripes from officers who believe discipline has been too harsh and complaints about the tear-gassing of unruly students at a college football game. "The centipede is running out of feet, waiting for the other shoe to drop," said Denver City Councilman Ed Thomas, a former police officer troubled by the string of problems the department has faced over the past six months. Mayor Wellington Webb came to the department's defense Saturday. He echoed Police Chief Tom Sanchez's caution that citizens shouldn't rush to judgment and said the department is being more open than ever with the public. "I've told people that if they're going to look for someone that's going to beat up on the police department, that's not going to be me," Webb said. "They are like any other department, where if they have some people that make a mistake we're not going to blame the whole department." The latest controversy erupted after a veteran officer accused superiors of trying to force her to make it appear there was a history of trouble at a house where police carried out a surprise drug raid Sept. 29. A Mexican national died in a shootout with police, but questions soon arose about the validity of the warrant. A special prosecutor is looking into the shooting of Ismael Mena, and the results of that investigation could be announced as early as this week. Sanchez called a news conference Friday to "assure the community that you have an excellent police department." He asked citizens to wait until completion of the investigation, which he said is a top priority. "I assure you the appropriate action will be taken should it be determined that either law or policy violations have occurred," Sanchez said. The current string of controversies can be attributed to three things, Webb said. In the early and mid-1990s, the department stepped up efforts to communicate with residents following a series of gang shootings. The result has been a new level of openness between the department and Denver citizens. Second, Webb said, officials have been "fairly open" in talking about controversial cases. "My standard has been that if we do a good job, an extraordinary job, like what was done on the Emily Johnson (murder) case, then the police department needs to be applauded for the outstanding police work that was done," he said. "And if there was a mistake that was made, and we made it in the police department as part of the city, then we admit it." And, Webb said, the 1996 shooting death of a man outside a nightclub by two off-duty officers intensified outside scrutiny of police actions. Webb said the Mena shooting concerns him greatly, adding that the investigation will bring out the truth. Meanwhile, others are critical of the department. The Rev. Gill Ford, a former member of the city's Public Safety Review Commission, said the complaint filed last week by the veteran officer made it clear to him there are problems in the department. "It shows that there is a lack of real integrity in the police department and it starts at the top," Ford said. Councilman Thomas, however, said that while ultimate responsibility for the actions of police officers lies with Chief Sanchez, it's not necessarily fair to blame him for the recent problems. January 30, 2000 Recent criticisms of police In the past six months, Denver police have faced several controversies: Last week it was disclosed that an investigation is under way into a veteran officer's allegations that superiors pressured her to make it appear there was a history of trouble at a home where SWAT officers killed a man in a "no-knock" raid. The dead man, Ismael Mena, 45, fired a gun at officers at least twice, according to police. A special prosecutor is looking at the case, including questions about the validity of the affidavit used to obtain the original warrant. Police officials have said that the warrant may have mistaken Mena's home for another on the block known for drug activity. Two weeks ago, Police Chief Tom Sanchez disciplined several officers for their actions last summer during a televised police chase and the arrest of suspects. Originally, a special prosecutor cleared seven officers of wrongdoing, but Mayor Wellington Webb demanded a new investigation by Manager of Safety Fidel "Butch" Montoya. At least three of the officers hit suspects with their guns. In December, the city began investigating the hiring of a police recruit who admitted using drugs extensively. Although the hiring was done by the city's Civil Service Commission, a police commander was accused of trying to improperly block the applicant's background check. In November, a Hispanic officers' group issued a scathing letter accusing Sanchez of practicing a management style that was one of "harsh discipline, unwarranted transfers and destroyed careers." However, records indicated that Sanchez hadn't handed out as much suspension time as former chief Dave Michaud. In September, Denver police were critized after they used tear gas at Mile High Stadium to quell an unruly crowd in the wake of the Colorado State University-University of Colorado game. Police officials strongly defended their actions and said they prevented anyone from getting seriously hurt. In late September, Sanchez demoted Division Chief of Special Operations Juan Maldonado to captain for unspecified reasons. It was the second time in Sanchez's tenure that he demoted a member of his command team. Four months after his appointment in August 1998, Sanchez demoted Deputy Chief of Administration Dan O'Hayre. -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. 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