Pubdate: Tue, 18 Jul 2000
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2000 The Denver Post
Contact:  1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202
Fax: (303) 820.1502
Website: http://www.denverpost.com/
Forum: http://www.denverpost.com/voice/voice.htm
Author: Diane Carman

OFFICIALS' SINS OF OMISSION

July 18, 2000 - The beautiful thing about the Denver Police
Department's policy of allowing citizens to accompany officers on the
job is that it demonstrates a commitment to openness. It says our cops
are professionals. They've got nothing to hide.

The chief says it's good public relations. It helps engender mutual
respect and understanding between officers and citizens.

Apparently any old regular Joe who signs a release of liability can
ride along in a patrol car.

Rockies second baseman Mike Lansing was treated to a particularly
exciting night on the job last September. He wanted to see a friend
help execute a surprise no-knock raid on a rumored drug operation at
3738 High St.

The police say they don't worry about citizens coming along on these
kinds of operations.

They've got nothing to hide.

Unfortunately, things didn't go all that well that
night.

The police entered the wrong house. No drugs were found, but a
terrified Mexican national reacted to the army of strangers yelling
and smashing through his door by picking up a gun. Ismael Mena, a
migrant farm laborer who worked to support his wife and seven of their
children at home in Mexico, was shot and killed in a storm of police
gunfire.

Word of the botched raid was reported within days. City officials
promised a thorough investigation and full disclosure. They wanted the
community to understand what went wrong.

They had nothing to hide.

A few months later, when the police officer who had initiated the raid
was charged with perjury and Police Chief Tom Sanchez promptly left
for a law enforcement conference in Hawaii, the city was faced with
another kind of public relations problem.

Respect for the police department was slipping and the image of the
boss basking on the beach during the crisis was not helping.

In the face of blistering criticism and scathing public ridicule,
Sanchez resigned.

Not just incidentally, the city also agreed to pay Mena's family a
$400,000 settlement for his wrongful death.

Then Mayor Wellington Webb took charge. He announced the selection of
Police Chief Gerry Whitman and Public Safety Manager Ari Zavaras, two
pros who would restore public trust.

The community braced itself for a rush of confidence in the police
department.

And then, after 10 months of police investigations, management
shake-ups and dozens of speeches calling for public calm and
understanding in evaluating the whole colossal, sickening blunder, out
leaks another choice morsel this week.

While Ismael Mena was dying on his bedroom floor, Lansing was sitting
outside in a police car.

It didn't occur to police officials to mention that juicy detail in
any of the reports, news conferences or the voluminous public records
of this investigation. Lansing's involvement was a closely held secret.

It can't help but make you wonder what else the department is trying
to hide.
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