[6] In most of the 86 shootings, “the individual was clearly pointing a gun at officers.” A 2015 review of past court cases observed that Denver juries almost always acquit police officers charged with excessive force.

[9] In 1953 the Denver Police Department began to gather information on individuals and groups regarding activities that might pose a threat to public safety.

These groups and individuals included not only criminal elements but also peace activists and education and human rights organizations.

Mayor John Hickenlooper ordered the records be archived at the Denver Public Library and preserved for study.

Cops had stolen over a quarter of a million dollars from businesses they were supposed to be protecting on their beats over a ten-year period.

It all came to a crashing halt when an officer named Art Winstanley literally had a safe fall out of the back of his police cruiser.

[13] In 2008, newspapers reported on a 1979 video that showed Sergeant Arthur Hutchinson addressing a group of police recruits.

[14] In September 1999 a Denver Police SWAT team performed a no-knock raid on the home of 45-year-old Mexican national, Ismael Mena, believing there to be drugs in the house.

[15] Joseph Bini, the officer who gave the address to the SWAT team, was charged with first-degree official misconduct, and sentenced to 12 months probation.

[18][19] On April 4, 2008, John Heaney was riding his bicycle past the stadium and allegedly ran a red light.

[20] On 18 April 2008 16-year-old Juan Vasquez ran from members of the Denver Police Department, an officer shouted for him "to stop or he would shoot him in the back."

Vasquez, who is 5-foot-6 and 130 pounds, was hospitalized with a lacerated liver, a ruptured spleen, damage to both kidneys and bruised or fractured ribs.

[28] In April, 2009 Corporal Randy Murr and Officer Devin Sparks threw Michael DeHerrea to the ground during an arrest outside of a downtown nightclub.

The two were fired for lying during the subsequent investigation but returned to their jobs as a result of a hearing by the Denver Civil Service Commission.

[29] Sergeant Perry Speelman, and Officers Tab Davis and Jesse Campion stopped two men in 2009 and subjected them to a barrage of racial insults after they were illegally forced from their car.

[30] A press report shows that in March 2010, Officer Hector Paez used threats of arrest to force himself on a woman.

In December 2012, Officer Paez was found guilty of sexual assault, kidnapping and filing a false report.

Officers Glenn Martin, Antonio Milow, and Thomas Johnston beat Winfield when he was mistakenly identified as a person who had previously caused trouble at a nightclub.

On March 16, 2010, Mark Ashford was walking his two dogs near the streets of 20th and Little Raven when he saw a police officer pull over a driver who had run a stop sign.

After being handcuffed for some time Officer Cook was seen smashing Ashford's head against the concrete sidewalk, once again showing extreme police brutality and abuses of the law.

[36] The city awarded Ashford $35,000, citing that they believed the officers used excessive force and criticized Rosenthal for ruling their actions justified.

In the suit, Watkins claimed Officers John Ruddy and Randy Penn slammed his face into the pavement repeatedly after hearing him say, "cops suck" to a friend.

[19] In April 2013, there was controversy surrounding the involvement of the Denver Police in a speech by President Obama in support of gun control.

[37][38] On July 2, 2014, Ryan Ronquillo was killed after running over a Denver Police detective while trying to escape arrest in a stolen car.

[43] The Denver Police Union passed a vote of no confidence in Chief Robert White's leadership after multiple misconduct investigations yielded no corrective action.

On July 5, 2020, the police department was placed under a federal injunction limiting their use of non-lethal projectiles and tear gas against protesters.

Ramos was also stripped of his peace officer certification, meaning that he can no longer work in law enforcement in Colorado.

[54][55] On June 1, 2020, the Denver Police Department implemented the Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) pilot program which sends a paramedic and a mental health provider to low-risk behavioral health and medical calls for service in lieu of a police officer.

This mobile crisis response unit assists residents who are experiencing problems related to mental health, depression, poverty, homelessness and / or substance abuse.

[56][57] The Denver Police Department created the Outreach Case Coordinator (OCC) program with the goal of improving long-term outcomes for individuals following the initial crisis response.