Denver has settled $2.8 million in cases involving police over an 8-month period

Since August 2016, Denver City Council agreed to pay out at least $2.78 million to settle eight cases involving the Denver Police Department, city records show.

Adrian D. Garcia

Apr. 12, 2017, 12:10 p.m.

Denver Police Department Chief Robert White. A press conference detailing a settlement agreement between Denver and the family of Jessica Hernandez, April 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) jessica hernandez; denver police; chief robert white; city and county building; kevinjbeaty; denver; denverite; kevinjbeaty; — Denver Police Department Chief Robert White. A press conference detailing a settlement agreement between Denver and the family of Jessica Hernandez, April 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

The nearly $1 million that Denver City Council is expected to approve for Jessica Hernandez’s family would be the second largest settlement city officials have approved in recent months to resolve claims against police.

Since August 2016, City Council has agreed to pay out at least $1.78 million to settle seven cases involving the Denver Police Department, according to city records. The elected officials will likely approve the settlement related to Hernandez’s 2015, officer-involved death later this month.

In January, Denver officials approved $1.6 million to settle a case involving Daniel Martinez Jr.’s wrongful arrest and prosecution in 2009.

It’s possible Denver has paid out more to settle claims involving the Denver Police Department. Denver City Council only has to weigh in on settlements when they’re greater than $25,000 for property damage claims and $5,000 for all other liability claims.

Altogether, the city’s Safety department — including the sheriff’s office, police department and fire department — racked up 1,081 claims from January 2010 through February 2017, according to the City Attorney’s Office.

Correction: This story has been changed to reflect that Denver City Council has not yet approved the Jessica Hernandez settlement.

Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at agarcia@denverite.com or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.

Subscribe to Denverite’s newsletter here bit.ly/DailyDenverite.

The City and County Building and Civic Center Park. May 14, 2023.

Mayor Johnston appoints long-time sustainability staffer to head city climate office

Denver is one of the few U.S. cities that have not only enacted a climate action plan but have also created a climate office.

A line of people wait to get on an eastbound bus at Union Station, including migrants who recently arrived in Denver from the U.S. southern border and are on their way to reunite with friends and family or find work. May 9, 2023.

Denver’s sheltering more migrants than at any point this year. Here’s how the city is adjusting

The city is changing shelter time limits for migrants as arrivals reach an average of 300 people per day.

An encampment at 22nd and Stout Streets, one day before it's swept by city officials. Aug. 3, 2023.

Is giving people cash working? What six months of Denver’s Basic Income Project tell us

The study marks the mid-way point in the nation's largest basic income study.

City officials sweep an encampment on Stout Street, the first of Mayor Mike Johnston's tenure. Aug. 4, 2023.

Denver extended its contract with a company that often works on encampment cleanups. Advocates want the city to find a new provider.

The six-month extension will help the city avoid a gap in service during a critical window of the mayor’s homeless initiative.

Denver Public Schools headquarters, March 23, 2023.

Denver teachers union backs Spearman for school board seat, while reform group endorses Youngquist

The current board has six union-backed members.

Crews erect fencing around an encampment on 18th Avenue, for the second sweep of Mayor Mike Johnston's tenure. Aug. 24, 2023.

Council votes against $6.4M contract to fund encampment outreach but passes hotel acquisition agreement

Monday night's session was all about proposed funds for the city's homelessness initiative.

Denver's tenant eviction clinic takes place on the first floor of the City and County Building. July 25, 2023.

Denver’s already seen 341 more eviction filings in 2023 than in 2022. It could get worse in 2024

Denver's spending on eviction prevention in the 2024 budget has quadrupled from the pre-pandemic years, but it's nearly $9 million less in support than in 2023. Here's why.

A troubled sidewalk in Globeville. Aug. 24, 2021.

Denver will delay sidewalk fee collection for six months

Voters approved the sidewalk fee in November 2022.

A rainy day by Union Station. June 7, 2023.

Denver sweater weather watch: It’s gonna get windy before cooler temps roll in for the week

Strong winds are expected Monday afternoon.

Anita Anderson works the floor during the 87 Foundation's revival show at El Chapultepec. Sept. 29, 2023.

One night at historic El Chapultepec, Denver’s once bustling but now shuttered jazz club

The show was meant to call attention to the cultural touchpoints that the city will lose if it doesn't prioritize the preservation of arts, culture and nightlife.

The signage on the corner of Evans and Abilene that lists the AAPI-serving organizations was damaged on September 22, 2023.

An Asian community center in Aurora was vandalized. In less than a week, the community tripled its repairs fundraising campaign goal

Happy Living’s GoFundMe campaign raised over $10,000 within a week.

The Regis Motel on East Colfax Avenue. Sept. 29, 2023.

Denver officials just closed an East Colfax motel that had been a chaotic home to people without one

The Regis Motel’s owner hoped to turn it into a shelter before its license was suspended over drugs, prostitution, theft and a homicide.

Blaire Caldwell (left) and Michael Dinh chow down during a moon cake-eating contest at the Far East Center's second Mid-Autumn Festival celebration. Westwood, Sept. 10, 2022.

Things to do in Denver this weekend, Sept. 29-Oct.1

The Lumberjack Festival, Suave Fest, the far East Center's Mid-Autumn Festival and much, much more!

A rendering of Denargo Market, a future development north of downtown Denver.

See the future of Denargo Market, a 17-acre development bringing thousands of new residents near downtown Denver

The first phase of the project just off Brighton Boulevard will include four acres of open space.

El Chapultepec's shuttered LoDo barroom. Sept. 27, 2023.

Live jazz returns to the old Chapultepec venue Friday night. Organizers say the special performance is about more than just the music

“How far down the line do we have to get before we realize that one of the very things that is sustaining us is also disappearing?”

Artist Cory Feder works on a new mural on the Auraria Campus. Sept. 26, 2023.

A new mural representing the Asian diaspora’s reach in the West will be unveiled at the Auraria Campus this weekend

The mural, sponsored by Colorado Asian Pacific United, seeks to continue publicizing Denver’s rich but often forgotten Asian history.

This box for used needles will be installed in this port-a-potty that's bound for use at a sidewalk encampment. Aug. 8, 2023.

Finding a restroom or water fountain isn’t easy in Denver — especially if you don’t have a home. A new report shows how the unhoused get by

Seeing feces on the streets? There's a reason for that: It's hard to get to a toilet.

Mayor Mike Johnston (left) speaks with David Sjoberg, a resident of an encampment at 22nd and Stout Streets that's set to be swept. Aug. 3, 2023.

Denver’s considering reallocating nearly $15 million toward mayor’s goal of housing 1,000 people

City Council will vote on the proposals pulling from COVID and American Rescue Plan funds in the coming weeks.

A plane flies over Confluence Park. Dec. 2, 2021.

Denverites will soon be able to fly directly to Monterrey, Mexico

Viva Aerobus is the latest airline to add operations at Denver International Airport.

Information on eviction support inside Denver's City and County Building. July 25, 2023.

Spike in eviction assistance calls leaves housing nonprofit Brothers Redevelopment ‘floored’

The nonprofit's hotline has seen an almost 60% spike in calls regarding rental and eviction prevention assistance, especially in Barnum, Westwood and Villa Park.

More Denverite

Denver Police Department Chief Robert White. A press conference detailing a settlement agreement between Denver and the family of Jessica Hernandez, April 12, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)