Open-Records 'Coverup' Probe At Denver PD Ends

DENVER, CO – A year-long probe of an alleged Denver Police brass coverup and mishandling of open records requests ended Monday, when Police Chief Paul Pazen announced that a former deputy chief (now a lieutenant) did not violate department policy. Pazen also released the findings of a Denver Sheriff's Office investigation, which revealed more details about the case involving an alleged sex assault by a former Denver cop with an alleged female sidekick, both accused of sexually attacking a third woman.

“After reviewing Lieutenant [Matt] Murray’s case and considering the totality of the circumstances, including evidence presented at his pre-disciplinary meeting, I have concluded that a department policy violation was not sustained,” said Pazen in a press release.

The complaint revolved around a letter from former Denver County District Attorney Mitch Morrissey criticizing Murray's judgement in the 2016 arrest of the alleged female attacker. Murray was a trusted underling of White's. Members of the Denver Police Protective Association – the union representing the DPD's rank and file officers – claimed the document was buried and that police higher-ups and their direct employees conspired to conceal it.

The case was one element of a long-simmering feud between DPPA and and department brass, specifically Pazen's predecessor Chief Robert White.

The arrest in question happened in May, 2016, when a victim reportedly told another police agency that she had been sexually assaulted by now-former Denver police officer Davin Munk and Angiella Arnot. Arnot was held in solitary confinement for three days, she told reporters from Channel 7 News, then all charges were dropped against her.

An earlier investigation by DA Beth McCann blamed sloppy record-keeping on the part of police administrators.

Pazen released the sheriff's report, which described how the victim had allegedly contacted Munk, who was going by an alias, through the dating app KIK and wanted to "have sex with a cop." She said the second time she contacted Munk, he and another woman, identified as Arnot, sexually attacked her and Munk allegedly held an unloaded gun to her head and pulled the trigger.

Deputy Chief Murray, who was reportedly out of town when Arnot was arrested, insisted that the arrest was based on "probable cause." Morrissey criticized the DPD in a letter for not following a policy that let prosecutors and officers collaborate on charging suspects. He called Arnot's arrest and confinement "completely unwarranted" and "subjected her to public ridicule and embarrassment."

When the union got wind of the letter, they asked for a copy from the DPD administrative offices via the Colorado Open Records Act, and twice received a reply that the document did not exist. A copy of the letter from the DA's office was produced via CORA in January.

Union members then accused the police brass of a coverup.

Among Pazen's reasons for not charging Murray for misconduct was an assertion that, "When Chief White received the Morrissey letter, he showed it to Lieutenant Murray but told him to stay out of it and let the Chief respond. Lieutenant Murray indicated that directive prevented him from any involvement in the records request. The records coordinator who generally worked with Lieutenant Murray on Chief White’s record requests was not made aware of these facts."

"[T]here is insufficient evidence to support a conclusion that Lieutenant Murray knowingly or intentionally withheld documents from the public. What is clear is the need to set expectations related to appropriate responses to open records requests, and we will work closely with the Executive Director of Safety’s Office to meet that need," Pazen said in a statement.

Related: Coverup Probe Of Denver Top Cops Goes To Sheriff

Read the Denver Sheriff's Conduct Review Office report here:

Image: Denver Police Chef Paul Pazen, left, talks with other officials near the scene of a triple homicide south of downtown Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Stay up-to-date on Denver news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Free newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook