A $3.25 million jail abuse settlement approved Monday by the Denver City Council gives city officials until the end of the year to hire outside investigators for wide-ranging reviews of the Sheriff Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
Mayor Michael Hancock and City Attorney Scott Martinez announced those independent investigations in recent weeks, and the city said Monday that a law firm, Lewis Roca Rothgerber, had been retained for the review of the legal office.
But the lawyer for former inmate Jamal Hunter said the probes were central to settlement discussions conducted prior to those announcements.
Also key, attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai said, is a provision that allows a U.S. District Court judge to enforce the settlement’s terms if the city falls short. Martinez said that won’t be necessary.
“This (settlement) requires major changes in how they operate the jail and how the City Attorney’s Office defends these kinds of cases in the future,” Mohamedbhai told reporters after the council approved the settlement 10-1. “There has never been a case that has caused this much social impact for the community.”
The deal is the largest pre-trial settlement in the city’s history. It closes a chapter in an abuse case that embarrassed city officials, raised questions about the conduct of an assistant city attorney and uncovered ignored inmate complaints about other abuse.
Hunter’s case also led to the resignation last month of Sheriff Gary Wilson, whose department ran the jail.
The city released the 10-page settlement publicly after Monday’s vote.
DOCUMENT: Read the settlement and agreement in the Jamal Hunter case
In a concession, Hunter and his attorneys agreed not to give to anyone a trove of evidence they received from the city in July or any evidence connected to the investigation of one of the deputies.
Hancock, in a statement, said the case’s resolution “marks a new day for our community and for our sheriff’s department. We are working hard to strengthen protocols and chart a new direction for the department that will restore the public’s trust.”
But there are potential ramifications to come.
In 2011, Hunter was tortured by other inmates in a brutal attack that he claimed was facilitated and encouraged by Deputy Gaynel Rumer. He also said he was choked by Deputy Edward Keller in another incident.
Responding to a question from Councilman Charlie Brown, Martinez said Monday that the disciplinary process against the deputies was put on hold during the civil case. It now will move forward.
Assistant City Attorney Stuart Shapiro is on paid leave while officials investigate his actions in the case.
He was accused of sending e-mails intended to coerce police intimidation of a key witness, despite having denied to Hunter’s attorneys that he was involved in the investigations.
“It’s just incomprehensible to me that this can happen,” Brown said of the Hunter case. “I’m going to vote for this tonight, but I hope we don’t see any more (settlements). But I believe we will.”
Councilwoman Jeanne Faatz cast the sole no vote, calling the settlement merited but too large. Councilwoman Debbie Ortega abstained from voting because her daughter works for the sheriff’s department.
In a separate but identical vote, the council agreed to transfer the money for the unusually large deal from the city’s contingency fund to its liability claims fund.
The Denver Post reported Sunday that since 2004, the city has paid out $16.7 million to settle legal claims, with 58 percent going for cases involving accusations of excessive force or civil rights violations. That was before the Hunter deal.
Still unresolved are other claims that have piled up from other inmates who have alleged mistreatment in the jail.
The council meeting attracted activists who wanted city officials to feel the community’s pressure for jail reform.
Protesters led by Timothy Tyler, senior pastor at Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal Church, demanded justice for the family of Marvin Booker during a demonstration outside. The homeless street preacher died in the jail in 2010 after an incident with deputies, but the district attorney declined to press charges.
Once inside the council meeting, the small group silently held pictures of Booker during the debate about the Hunter settlement.
Hunter told The Post recently that he carries scars and pain from permanent physical and emotional injuries.
His plans for using the settlement money, he said, include building a house for his ex-wife and two of his children in Colorado and taking care of other children who live in Texas. He also wants to buy a beauty salon and barber shop and to donate wigs to cancer patients.
Jon Murray: 303-954-1405, jmurray@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JonMurray
