Critics say Denver Police Oversight plan too weak
A week after the Denver City Council cleared the way for Mayor John Hickenlooper's proposal for civilian oversight of the police to go before the voters in November, the plan still is under heavy attack for what it lacks.Some community leaders have criticized Hickenlooper for shying away from a political fight and not fast-tracking a change to the City Charter that would end "comparative discipline," a policy which holds that a police officer should not be punished more severely than officers guilty of the same or similar offenses, sometimes years earlier. "He dodges the very thing that needs to be changed to bring meat and purpose to strengthening the entire process," said Leroy Lemos, a member of the police reform task force. "The only way meaningful change is going to happen is it's going to have to come from the citizens." Lemos said he and other Hispanic, black and American Indian community leaders are exploring a petition drive to place on the May ballot a combined measure to change the charter to end comparative discipline as well as give a civilian oversight board binding powers to recommend discipline and initiate investigations surrounding alleged police misconduct. [more 
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