Couple Alleging Police Retaliation for Homeless Advocacy Receives $130K from the City of Denver
The City of Denver is paying $130,000 to activist Regan Benson and her husband, Brenton Benson, following claims that the Denver Police Department retaliated against them due to their homelessness advocacy efforts. The Denver City Council approved the settlement on Monday, addressing two separate incidents involving the couple.
Incident One: Traffic Stop and License Revocation
In 2021, the Bensons pulled over to film a police interaction with people experiencing homelessness. Subsequently, police conducted a traffic stop on the couple. According to their lawyer, Andy McNulty, from civil rights firm Newman McNulty LLC, Brenton Benson was cited for blocking the roadway, a charge the Bensons disputed. The citation led to the revocation of Brenton Benson’s license, a measure typically reserved for individuals deemed unfit to drive.
“This process is supposed to be used for people who clearly can’t drive,” McNulty said. “But the cop, retaliatorily, did that in this case.”
Brenton Benson was later pulled over for driving with a suspended license. An internal investigation by the Denver Police Department concluded that Officer John Schaal had indeed retaliated against Brenton Benson. Commander Hans Levens’ report indicated that Benson had sufficiently pulled over to the side of the road, validating the couple’s claim of retaliation. As a result, Officer Schaal received a 10-day suspension.
Incident Two: Ban from Public Meetings
The second incident, settled for $30,000, involved Regan Benson being banned from public citizen advisory board meetings following a dispute with police staff. Benson filed a lawsuit, which resulted in her readmission to the meetings and increased transparency around these gatherings.
McNulty pointed out a concerning pattern in these incidents, highlighting the lack of accountability for police officers who violate citizens’ rights.
Denver Police Department’s Response
When approached for a comment, a Denver Police Department spokesperson stated, “An internal investigation was completed and Officer John Schaal received a sustained complaint which resulted in 10 days fined suspension.”
McNulty expressed concern over the recurring issues of police misconduct and the city’s financial settlements in such cases. “There is no accountability for people who violate folks’ rights, generally speaking, and that just perpetuates the ongoing abuse of those rights by Denver Police officers,” he said.
The settlement marks yet another instance where Denver has compensated individuals over claims of police misconduct and retaliation, reflecting broader issues within the department.
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