Denver District Attorney Beth McCann’s office was in mid-pack last week so The Denver Gazette interviewed her in the 2nd Judicial District’s conference room in its cushy new offices in Republic Plaza, downtown Denver. In a one-on-one interview, she discussed criminal justice reform, her once-contentious relationship with the Denver Police Department and her love for climbing 14’ers — many of which she saw every day from the 53rd floor.
McCann first ran for Denver District Attorney in 2003 and lost to eventual three-termer Mitch Morrissey. Interestingly, John Walsh, who will be succeed McCann Tuesday, came in third that year. McCann ran again in 2016 and became Denver’s first female district attorney, but not before she served for nine years in the Colorado legislature representing portions of central Denver.
During her eight years, 75-year-old McCann started a Behavioral Unit to better address substance abuse and mental health disorders within the criminal justice system, an Elder and At Risk adults unit and established the Handgun Intervention Program, which provides diversion opportunities for first-time juvenile offenders arrested on gun charges…