Denver police chief's job in peril - The Denver Post
Denver police chief's job in peril - The Denver Post Five of the candidates for Denver mayor, including almost all of the front-runners, say Police Chief Gerald Whitman won't keep his job if they are elected. The candidates say the chief has worn out his welcome with the public after years of excessive-force complaints and what they describe as an inefficient and lengthy officer-discipline process. Doug Linkhart, James Mejia, Michael Hancock, Chris Romer and Theresa Spahn all said Whitman would not be Denver's police chief if they become the next mayor. Of the six candidates considered to be leading the pack, only Carol Boigon is leaving open the possibility that Whitman would keep his current job. But she said she would ask all city department heads, including Whitman, to reapply for their jobs and then make personnel decisions. Whitman declined to comment Wednesday because he prefers to remain out of the political fray, said his spokesman, Lt. Matt Murray. "He is not going to get involved in this, and he is busy doing his job," Murray said. "That is where his focus is." Whitman, 55, is a 29-year veteran of the department. He was named interim chief in February 2000 and officially named chief in August of that year. Under civil-service rules, Whitman can't be fired from the Police Department but would revert back to his rank of captain if the mayor decides to replace him. He already has notified the city that he intends to retire by July 18, 2015. After years of increases, the rate of property crime in Denver has steadily fallen during the latter part of Whitman's tenure, even as the nation fell into a recession that would normally prompt crime. After peaking in 2004 and 2005, the violent-crime rate has also fallen in recent years. Time for new energy Denver City Council members Hancock and Linkhart did not begin voicing objections to Whitman's tenure until they began running for mayor.
No comments:
Post a Comment