Denver Sheriff Patrick Firman will leave his post next month following mounting criticism and multiple allegations of mismanagement by several anonymous staffers in his department.
Firman has held the job for about four years. Over that period he has "weathered criticism, fair and unfair," Mayor Michael Hancock said of his appointee. Recent criticism includes his oversight of a woman who gave birth alone in a jail cell last year and a resulting lawsuit.
Earlier this week the Denver City Council approved a $1.5 million settlement with female deputies who alleged the department failed to protect them from sexual harassment from inmates at the county jail.
In a prepared statement released late Wednesday, Firman claimed he had done his job well.
"When I came here four years ago, it was to take action on over 400 reform recommendations that touched nearly every aspect of the Denver Sheriff Department," Firman said. "With the help of our partners and the tireless efforts of staff, we were successful in implementing those changes."
He will leave his post October 14th.
