Latino leaders, Denver safety manager to examine beating - The Denver Post

Latino leaders, Denver safety manager to examine beating - The Denver Post

Latino leaders plan to tell Denver's new safety manager in a face-to-face meeting today that they fear he is taking a major step backward in oversight of the city's police force.

Prominent Latinos asked for the meeting following Safety Manager Ron Perea's decision to keep on the force two officers accused of covering up the beating of a 23-year-old Latino.

Concern over Perea's decision became so intense that it disrupted the conclusion of a reception Tuesday at Su Teatro honoring Perea's recent hiring. After the reception, which also honored the recent appointments of Tony Lopez as the new commander of Police District 6 and John Lucero as the city's deputy director of economic development, several people confronted Perea and demanded a meeting.

"People are extremely concerned that this could diminish police/community relationships," said Councilwoman Judy Montero, who will attend today's meeting. "People have worked so long, for decades, building trust within the community and the Police Department, and so folks felt it was appropriate to meet with the manager and express concern about his decision."

Perea, a Latino, docked the officers three days' pay each for filing inaccurate reports. He decided excessive force was not used even though video showed the man getting tackled to the ground and beaten for doing nothing but talking on a cellphone.

Perea, who said he believed the officers feared the man was going to throw a punch, said he will listen to the concerns during today's meeting, "and I'll respond accordingly."

News of today's 1 p.m. meeting quickly circulated among Latino activists, neighborhood groups and e-mail lists.