Denver’s new public safety communications director arrived on the job this week with a public-service résumé—and a disciplinary record from his previous police department that the city is now defending.
Brent Weisberg previously handled public messaging for the Salt Lake City Police Department before taking the Denver position. An investigation by Denver7 Investigates found that he had been suspended after an alcohol-related incident at a homicide scene in 2023.
According to records obtained by FOX 13 News, Weisberg drove a city-owned, unmarked police vehicle to the Salt Lake City scene after consuming alcohol. Officers detected an odor of alcohol, and a breath test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.027.
The internal affairs investigation sustained an allegation that Weisberg reported for duty and operated a vehicle with a measurable amount of alcohol in his system. The report also said he did not show signs of impairment, but Salt Lake City police placed him on paid administrative leave for four weeks before imposing a three-day suspension without pay.
Denver Department Defends The Hire
The position carries an unusually broad public-facing role because Denver’s Department of Public Safety oversees police, sheriff, fire and 911 operations, according to the Denver Citizen Oversight Board. That makes the circumstances surrounding a communications official’s past discipline more than a routine personnel footnote.
After Denver7 began asking questions, the Department of Public Safety said it completed a “full background and reference check” and found no other issues. Chief of Staff Angela Casias said Weisberg expressed regret, learned from the incident and was viewed by former colleagues as a hard-working communications professional.
Denver Executive Director of Public Safety Al Gardner and Weisberg declined interview requests, Denver7 reported. The department did not directly say whether Denver leaders knew about the Salt Lake City discipline before hiring him.
For now, Weisberg remains in the communications role as Denver’s public safety agencies navigate intense scrutiny over accountability, transparency and how officials present difficult information to the public.
