July 26, 2012 05:33 PM UTC

Denver's Independent Monitor Search Drawing to a Close

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• by: Colorado Pols

In December of last year, Denver’s Independent Monitor Richard Rosenthal announced his departure from the position in order to take a similar job in Vancouver. A lengthy search process then ensued, and in April, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock offered the position to Julie Ruhlin, who opted instead to stay in the Los Angeles Office of Independent Review. Another search was then initiated, culminating in a public forum on Wednesday with this round’s finalists: Gary Maas, Kenneth Moore, and Nicholas Mitchell. All three candidates interviewed with Hancock yesterday, so we suspect a formal appointment shouldn’t be too far off — assuming, of course, that whichever one of the selected candidates actually accepts the position.

From Westword’s Kelsey Whipple, who’s done an incredible job covering the search from the beginning:

Today, Mayor Michael Hancock will interview the last three candidates for Denver’s open Independent Monitor position — again. In the second round of a search that has lasted six months, finalists Kenneth Moore, Nicholas Mitchell and Gary Maas all share connections to Colorado. Last night, they answered questions from the public at Escuela Tlatelolco, where their opinions on the future of the role occasionallly differed as much as the patterns on their ties.

Prior to his current position as the associate director for the Colorado Department of Corrections, Maas worked as the police chief in Littleton and Sioux City, Iowa. Attorney Nicholas Mitchell’s past experience includes time as an investigator for New York City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, where he took part in more than 300 investigations alleging police misconduct. For more than two decades, Kenneth Moore has worked for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

Despite the fact that this search process has dragged on for months, Denver’s still ahead of the game on responding to allegations of police misconduct. Denver’s had an Independent Monitor since 2005. New York City, on the other hand? They’re currently debating whether or not the position is a good idea.