The former executive director of Denver’s Civil Service Commission, Niecy Murray, filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging she was fired in retaliation after speaking publicly about the lowering of standards for new police academy recruits.
“My decision to file this lawsuit was not made lightly,” Murray said in a statement issued by her attorney Andy McNulty. “No one should have to endure discrimination or retaliation for doing the right thing. This moment is about more than me; it’s about exposing the systems that silence, punish, and discredit Black women when we speak up. Mayor Johnston’s administration has created a culture where fear and retaliation thrive, where those who challenge wrongdoing are punished, and those who stay silent are rewarded. That culture must change.”
In late 2023, Murray said she observed growing pressure from Mayor Mike Johnston’s office to accelerate the hiring of more Denver Police Department officers and Denver Fire Department firefighters, according to court documents…