Independent police monitor details case reviews; panel recommended termination in EBAT falsification matter

The independent police monitor presented the panel's January case reviews and statistics and highlighted several specific findings, including one case that led the panel to recommend termination.

On SM2025-006, the monitor reported that Officer 1 certified on an Intoxilyzer evidential breath test form that she had completed required steps during the deprivation period, but body-worn camera footage contradicted that certification. The panel recommended sustaining the Rule 3 (Truthfulness) and Rule 8 (Conduct) allegations and recommended termination; the department agreed to terminate Officer 1. For Officer 2, the panel recommended sustaining a conduct allegation with a one-year letter of reprimand and recommended EBAT certification and auditing for patrol officers; the department exonerated Officer 2 but agreed that patrol officers should become EBAT certified and directed steps to certify as many officers as possible.

Sherry, the independent police monitor, summarized other case outcomes: MI2025-039 prompted additional investigative steps and was closed after extra work; MI2025-041 (alleged broken ribs) was found unfounded after body-worn camera review and medical records; and other case dispositions ranged from sustained coaching recommendations to not-sustained findings. The monitor reported preliminary 2025 data (147 cases registered, 173 closed; the panel conducted 19 case reviews in 2025) and noted 12 cases were precluded from review due to Colorado's clean slate statute.

Panel members pressed for clarity on chief responses and asked for training and for video excerpts when body-worn camera evidence is central to a complaint. The panel agreed to pursue training requests and to ask the chief for clarification where departmental determinations differed from panel recommendations.