ALOHA, POLICE CHIEF

Denver's top cop returns from Hawaii, leaves his job

DENVER - Police Chief Tom Sanchez is stepping down from his position after
coming under fire for going to a police conference in Hawaii despite
controversy surrounding his department.

Denver Mayor Wellington Webb announced Tuesday that the 30-year veteran of
the department would retire effective Feb. 22.

Sanchez did not attend the news conference but he issued a statement wishing
"nothing but the best" to his successor.

Webb said the retirement was a joint decision made that afternoon by
himself, Sanchez and public safety manager Butch Montoya.

The chief had drawn headlines for leaving town the day after one of his
officers was charged with perjury in connection with a fatal drug raid on
the wrong house.

But Webb stressed that the trip had nothing to do with the retirement.
Instead, he said it resulted partly from a "convergence of controversies."

He mentioned the rioting after the Denver Broncos' Super Bowl victory last
year and the Colorado State-University of Colorado game at Mile High Stadium
in the fall as two examples.

"Given the number of incidents that have come up in the past year and the
changes in the department, the number of new officers and the new officers
in the next two or three years, the chief will oversee a tremendous amount
of transition," said Webb, who had already held off reappointing Sanchez.

Webb said he expects to pick someone from inside the department.

Sanchez and three other top police officials left for the Hawaii police
conference Saturday, but Sanchez cut his trip short and returned Tuesday.

Councilman Ed Thomas, a former Denver police officer, said public outcry
about a Sept. 29 fatal drug raid should have put Sanchez on alert.