A civilian oversight group says the Denver Sheriff Department hasn't maintained a required list of deputies found to have credibility issues.
It doesn't know why, but the department now is reviewing thousands of internal affairs cases to create the list, The Denver Post reported Wednesday.
Civilian oversight officials expect to find 40 to 70 deputies with histories of lying, bias or even criminal convictions. The list is important because prosecutors in criminal cases are required to give defense attorneys any evidence that could help the accused. And a judge could rule that testimony provided by a deputy on the list is inadmissible.
It's unclear why the department never created a list, said Denver Department of Public Safety Director Troy Riggs. Denver police began creating a list in 2008.
"This is not going to be fixed quickly," Riggs said.
Authorities have yet to find any criminal cases in which a deputy with credibility issues testified, said Dave Walcher, director of the Public Integrity Division. A review of the case is required if any such instance is found.
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