Police Chief Accepts Job As Captain

Feb. 22 - Denver Police Chief Tom Sanchez, who will step down as chief
today, has decided to remain with the department as a captain, the
police department announced Monday.

Sanchez had no comment Monday night. According to a statement from the
Denver Police Department, his new assignment has not been determined.

Mayor Wellington Webb announced Feb. 8 that Sanchez would relinquish
his position as chief, which he had held since August 1998. The
announcement came after a series of problems in the department,
culminating in an officer being charged with perjury in connection
with a botched noknock raid.

The officer, Joseph Bini, allegedly lied to a judge in a
search-warrant affidavit for a no-knock raid. The warrant was issued
for the wrong house and officers ended up killing 45-year-old Ismael
Mena.

Webb has said he will name a replacement for Sanchez today. Spokesman
Andrew Hudson said the replacement will most likely be an interim
chief rather than a permanent replacement. "That's because he is not
taking this decision lightly," Hudson said.

Sanchez, a 30-year veteran of the Denver Police, could have retired
with a $76,000 pension when he left the chief's position but has said
he was not sure he was ready to do that.

"It's been a good 30 years," he said recently. "I'm just not sure if
it should be 32 years or not."