Anger over a video showing Denver police slamming a Hispanic man to the ground intensified Thursday as Latino and African-American leaders called for the resignation of the city official who decided against firing the officers involved.
by Ivan Moreno DENVER (AP) — Anger over a video showing Denver police slamming a Hispanic man to the ground intensified Thursday as Latino and African-American leaders called for the resignation of the city official who decided against firing the officers involved. Safety Manager Ron Perea’s decision to keep the officers on the force is also getting a second look by the police department itself, which announced that it will reopen the internal affairs case. Community leaders admonished Perea during a tense, hour-long meeting, scoffing at his explanations for not firing the officers. "We’re saying to you, terminate the officers!" said prominent Hispanic activist Nita Gonzales, triggering applause from the more than 20 people at the meeting, some of whom said Perea’s decision would erode years of progress police have made with Hispanics and African Americans after two questionable police shootings. At issue is a video from police surveillance that shows an officer throwing 24-year-old Michael DeHerrera to the ground as he watched his friend get arrested. In the video, DeHerrera is seen gesturing while talking on his cell phone to his father before he is slammed to the ground. Perea acknowledged the video was inflamatory but said that it didn’t tell the whole story. He said witnesses told police DeHerrera and his friend were drunk and that the officer who forced DeHerrera to the ground could have easily believed DeHerrera was going to take a swing at him. But DeHerrera’s father, a sheriff’s deputy in El Paso County, told CBS’ "The Early Show" this week he heard someone say: "We have to get rid of the phone, they’re recording us." Perea disciplined the officers for filing an inaccurate report about the April 2009 incident, but doesn’t believe excessive force was used. The FBI is now looking at the case at the mayor’s request. Perea said during the meeting that he stood by his decision not to fire the officers. He also said he didn’t think DeHerrera’s civil rights were violated, a comment that prompted audience members to chuckle in disbelief. "I think it’s absolutely ludicrous that this person would say today that brutality did not occur," said Eloy Chavez, executive director of the ACE Community Challenge Charter School. Chavez said he thinks Perea’s decision not to fire the officers sends the message that what is shown in the video is acceptable. Denver Councilwoman Judy Montero said the minority communities are proud of the work they’ve done to improve their relationships with police but that she fears Perea’s decision will have a "chilling effect" on their efforts. "I think that’s why people have fought very hard and stood up to say, ‘Let the two officers go.’ And if you don’t want to let the officers go then, respectfully, it’s time for you to step aside," Montero said. "In listening to the questions the people have asked you about today, I’m not satisfied that we’re safe, and I’m not satisfied that we’ll be heard." Perea’s decision also has come under scrutiny because an independent office that monitors allegations of excessive force against Denver police had said the officers should have been fired. The city established the office in 2005 after the public condemned police for fatal two shootings involving minorities, including that of a 15-year-old developmentally disabled African-American boy. The other involved a 64-year-old Hispanic man who was unarmed. Police decided to reopen the DeHerrera case one day after another video alleging police brutality was made public. In that case, Mark Ashford, 32, said he was beaten after making comments about a traffic stop. An officer is seen hitting him in that video. Police said the case is under investigation and they would not comment. Both recent cases of alleged abuse have helped to drive media coverage and public interest. "Whether it’s right or wrong," said Reyes Trujillo, with the National Latino Peace Officers Association, "use of force when it is caught on tape never looks good." Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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