Cops also missing integrity, honesty
By Chuck Green
Denver Post Columnist
Mar. 14, 2001 - The FBI is investigating possible thefts from the Denver Police Department evidence room.

But what the federal government ought to be investigating is the theft of honesty, integrity and moral decency from the department.

It's missing.

There is an emerging crisis of confidence in the Police Department, and the political machinery in the city can no longer be trusted to restore it.

It is Mayor Wellington Webb's biggest single weakness as an otherwise strong and honorable mayor.

Citizens should no longer have any patience or settle for political promises or be deterred by good intentions. It is time for a total house cleaning at the DPD, and the broom has to come from outside.
There is little doubt that most - virtually all - members of the police force are honest, hard-working public servants, with one exception. When a bad cop goes wrong, the whole police force seems to close ranks to protect the miscreant. The latest example emerged last weekend with a federal jury's award of $3.75 million in damages and legal fees resulting from the death of a 22-year-old man nearly 12 years ago.

He and a date were traveling in a sedan when their car was hit broadside by a police cruiser, traveling at an estimated 60 mph without red lights or siren on a non-emergency call.

That's bad enough, but it gets badder and badder.

Three witnesses who saw the accident were turned away by police at the scene, who said publicly that there were no witnesses. For the next 11 years, the city denied any liability for the accident, dragging the victims' families through agonizing litigation.

Just two weeks before the federal trial began last month, the Police Department's wall of silence and deceit began to crumble, and the 12-member jury returned its verdict Friday.

In addition to the death of the driver, his passenger suffered irreversible brain damage and is impaired for life.

Judge Edward Nottingham, who presided over the trial, said the evidence convinced him that on the night of the accident the conduct of Patrolman Michael Farr "was contrary to his training, contrary to statute and contrary to policy." He described Farr as a "cowboy" whose behavior prior to the deadly crash was "absolutely inexplicable."
Farr had been hired despite the fact that his driver's license had been suspended three times.

The Farr case - and its apparent coverup - is only the latest in several incidents involving the "blue shield" of silence Denver police are accused of using to hide misconduct in recent years.

The city's mayors, police chiefs, district attorneys and civilian review boards no longer can be trusted to probe police misconduct in the city.

It's time that the U.S. Justice Department launch a full investigation into the integrity of the city's police force.

As soon as a replacement for outgoing Colorado U.S. Attorney Tom Strickland is named, Gov. Bill Owens and Attorney General Ken Salazar should formally submit a joint request for an inquiry.
Chuck Green's commentaries appear on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Send mail to P.O. Box 1709, Denver, CO 80201. Send e-mail to cgreen@denverpost.com E-mail Chuck about this column.

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