The ACLU of Colorado submitted a detailed complaint to Denver Police Chief Robert White and the Denver Office of the Independent Monitor on April 12, 2012, requesting a formal investigation of unreasonable and abusive use of force and other misconduct in policing Occupy Denver demonstrations at Civic Center Park in October 2011.(To watch video content within the complaint, we recommend using the latest version of Adobe Reader.)
The complaint calls for Chief White to ban the use of pepper ball guns for crowd control and reiterates the ACLU's request for an independent federal inquiry of civil rights violations and abusive police practices in Denver.
Focused primarily on events that occurred October 29, 2011, the complaint traces police overreaction to a misguided and irresponsible decision to forcibly enforce a minor ordinance that prohibits erecting tents in city parks. The ACLU asserts that Denver police violated their own crowd control policies (as well as common sense) by needlessly antagonizing a large crowd of mostly peaceful demonstrators, prompting a confrontation that escalated in intensity and severity.
ACLU news releases:
- "We're watching and listening at Occupy Denver," ACLU News Release, November 10, 2011
- "Police abuses spark calls for internal investigation; end to pepperball guns for crowd control," ACLU News Release, April 12, 2012
Media:
- “Occupy Denver: ACLU investigates constitutionality and safety of police action,” Westword, November 2, 2011
- “ACLU Says Police Are Interfering With Occupy Protesters' Rights,” CBS News, November 14, 2011
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“ACLU Calls For Denver Police To Ban Pepper Ball Guns,” CBS News, April 12, 2012
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"Occupy Denver: ACLU demands formal investigation of police conduct, pepper ball guns," Westword, April 12, 2012
