Re: "Denver's bad boys; Police Dept. handcuffed by 'inconsistent' internal discipline system," Aug. 19 news story.

Your article on the Denver police discipline policies and history is commendable and necessary. With gang hysteria, aggressive policing policies, and the approaching Democratic National Convention, the Denver police are seldom called into question and held accountable for their injustices.

The article gives voice to the many people who face police harassment and mistreatment. It helps to shift the dialogue from the police dealing with criminals and bad people to the police being responsible for protecting everyone's safety. They should be held accountable to that task. Police are given special rights, liberties, abilities, trust, gratitude and respect to do their job, and recently a significant pay raise, but with that come higher standards. If police are not held to certain standards, then they cannot be entrusted with the safety and trust of the rest of us.

It is our organization's hope that the policy changes coming from Manager of Safety Al LaCabe will include a process that includes community input and that those most impacted by police injustice are given special attention.

Police accountability is a good step toward a more positive relationship between the Denver Police Department and the people of Denver.

Causten Wollerman, Lead Racial Justice Organizer

Colorado Progressive Coalition, Denver