Denver’s Independent Police Monitor resigns

Nicholas E. Mitchell Appointed to Oversee Department of Justice Consent Decree, Resigns as Denver Monitor

The Office of the Independent Monitor (“OIM”) announced that Nicholas E. Mitchell has been appointed by a federal court to oversee a Department of Justice consent decree with the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.  The consent decree is a court-ordered agreement designed to correct systemic, unconstitutional conditions in the Los Angeles County jails, the largest municipal jail system in the world.  Mitchell is resigning his position as Independent Monitor for the City and County of Denver effective January 4, 2021.  He was appointed Denver Monitor in August 2012.  During his tenure, Mitchell:

• oversaw thousands of investigations into complaints of misconduct, clearing many Denver Police Department (“DPD”) officers and Denver Sheriff Department (“DSD”) deputies, and ensuring accountability for those who abused their authority and the public trust;
• conducted a sweeping investigation into the police response to the George Floyd protests, making 16 recommendations for reform, all of which were adopted by the DPD;
• issued multiple reports about problematic practices in the DSD, including the mishandling of inmate grievances, triggering major reforms in Denver’s jails;
• served as co-chair of the DSD Use of Force Policy Committee, which transformed use of force standards for Denver deputies;
• issued public guidance about deficiencies in the DPD use of force policy, leading to the complete rewrite of the policy;
• released an analysis of body-worn camera use by DPD officers, resulting in significant enhancements on their use;
• co-founded the Bridging the Gap: Kids and Cops program, which has won national recognition for helping to transform relationships between police officers and youth in Denver; and
• led three successful efforts to change the law that empowers the OIM, including a City Charter amendment passed in 2016 with the support of 72 percent of Denver voters.

Mitchell received awards from the Denver Bar Association and the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement and has been recognized as an expert on civilian oversight and law enforcement reform by CNN, the New Yorker, and other national publications.  Mitchell consulted with numerous cities seeking to enhance oversight of law enforcement, including Phoenix, Tulsa, Madison, Baltimore, Colorado Springs, Aurora, and others.  He looks forward to continuing similar work in the future.

“It has been a great honor to serve Denver as its Independent Monitor.  I hope I have left a legacy of fairness and reform, and I look forward to staying involved in the Denver community,” said Mitchell, who will continue to live in Denver, a city he loves, while assuming his new role in Los Angeles.

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