Denver Mayor Mike Johnston will maintain the leadership of the public safety departments first appointed by former Mayor Michael Hancock.
Johnston announced on Friday that he's recommending Denver Fire Department Chief Desmond G. Fulton and Sheriff Elias Diggins keep their jobs.
Fulton, who has served in the department for more than 25 years, has been chief since 2020. Diggins has been with the Sheriff Department since 1994.
Both are celebrated by supporters as reform-minded leaders and lifelong Denverites.
"These are leaders who have grown up in this community, have served this community, and share our vision for bringing public safety to every neighborhood in Denver," Johnston said in a statement. "I look forward to working with them shoulder to shoulder to deliver a safer Denver."
In addition to these appointments, Johnston re-appointed Police Chief Ron Thomas and Director of Public Safety Armando Saldate in their posts.
None of the heads of public safety were hired through a competitive process like many other department head positions. Why?
"During the transition process, Mayor Johnston's public safety committee, made up of dozens of community members across Denver, was asked to review and vet current safety leaders and make recommendations to either keep the current leader as the sole candidate or open up a national search," said the mayor's spokesperson Jordan Fuja. "The committee recommended each of the leaders remain the sole candidate for the role."
Before deciding whether to open up job postings like Johnston did for many other cabinet positions, the mayor interviewed each safety leader and conducted both community meetings and had an internal discussion with city staff.
"After all those steps were taken, Mayor Johnston made the final decision to move forward with these candidates based on robust feedback," Fuja explained.
Criminal justice advocate and two-time mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón has repeatedly asked Johnston to consider other appointees in these public safety positions, noting that he's maintaining the status quo from the Hancock administration.
She says she's spoken to public safety employees who feared retaliation for expressing their desire for change at the Sheriff's Department under Johnston's leadership.
"I'm particularly disappointed that women were excluded from consideration while the same good old boys' club remains in place within a notoriously male-dominated profession," she wrote Denverite. "This is what institutional sexism looks like.
"I've heard from women across public safety agencies who wanted a fair chance to compete but are now stuck with the same male leaders who take credit for their work while publicly claiming how much they do for women," she continued. "It's another example of mediocre men failing up and exceptional women having to work harder for opportunities that never come."
Fuja said that Johnston is committed to hiring an administration that is representative of Denver.
"All four public safety leaders are men of color who have extensive experience and personal expertise in leading and supporting a diverse workforce," she wrote in a statement. "The Mayor's appointees are made up of 55% people of color and for the first time in Denver's history, his senior leadership team is made up of all women."
In Denver, public safety officials continue to have their work cut out for them.
Reports of violent crime have nearly doubled over the past decade, while homicides have tripled, according to Denverite's analysis.
The city has spent millions on law enforcement settlements.
What are the next steps?
City Council will ultimately decide whether to confirm or reject Johnston's four nominations once he submits them to City Council.
"Typically there is a period where his staff offers to set up meetings with nominees so council members have the opportunity to get to know the nominee," explained Robert Austin, a spokesperson for City Council. While all four department heads are well known to seasoned members of Council, "the six newer members may take advantage of those offers to get to know them better."
Before going to the full council, the appointments will first be considered by the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee.
The process should begin in the coming weeks.
This story has been updated with additional comments from Jordan Fuja.
