Boulder police performance-and-conduct reviews remain paused, with 52 cases open

Boulder’s independent police monitor reported 52 open cases as of Oct. 6 while the Police Department continued to pause performance-and-conduct reviews under an older policy that does not include that process. Monitor Sherry Daun presented the figures at the Police Oversight Panel’s Oct. 12 meeting, where she also reported no case-file reviews completed in September.

The 52 cases represented the combined open workload for Daun and the Police Support Unit: 19 were classified, four awaited classification by the monitor, 26 were in preliminary investigation and three were listed as performance-and-conduct case reviews.

The pause does not stop all complaint handling or panel oversight. The city says the panel reviews completed internal complaint investigations and can recommend dispositions and discipline. In September, Daun classified nine cases and observed eight interviews, but no performance-and-conduct reviews were forwarded to her. At its October meeting, the panel also voted to take up two separate cases for review.

One complaint, MI2026-019, was closed in September after the complainant did not cooperate. Daun said she recommended administrative closure, and the department agreed. That closure was separate from a panel case-file review.

The city attorney’s representative told the panel that the department was using the previous General Order 120, which does not include the performance-and-conduct process, and that work on a replacement order was underway. The meeting did not explain how the three open cases listed as performance-and-conduct reviews fit with the pause.