Denver City Council approves record excessive force settlement

On Monday, the Denver City Council transferred $3,250,000 from its contingency coffers to once again pay an excessive force settlement against law enforcement. The claim brought by Jamal Hunter who was an inmate of Denver jail in 2011, is the largest police brutality settlement in city history.

The City of Denver has now paid out over $12 million in law enforcement excessive force civil rights violation cases in the past 10 years. Sheriff Gary Wilson was asked to resign last month after pressure about the serious number of complaints against the department. Assistant City Attorney Stuart Shapiro was placed on paid leave while he is investigated for sending emails encouraging police intimidation of key witnesses.. other sheriffs deputies have also been placed on leave.