The Denver Police Department fired one officer and criminally cited another after two separate late-night incidents that unfolded within a month of each other in crowded downtown corridors, according to a department statement.
The Incidents, According to the Department
In a department release summarized by the Denver Gazette, Officer Gabriel Lucero was involved in an altercation just before 1 a.m. on May 22 in the 500 block of 16th Street in downtown Denver. The release says Lucero was seen striking a person inside a business, then tried to get back in by flashing his badge. When an off-duty officer later questioned him, the department says Lucero gave a false name.
Lucero joined DPD in 2025 and was assigned to District Two, according to the release. He was cited for third-degree assault, official misconduct, and false reporting, and the department says he was fired because he was still on probation at the time.
The same release says Officer Javon Leach was seen driving the wrong way out of a parking lot in the 2000 block of Larimer Street around 1:41 a.m. on June 21. According to the department, Leach failed to yield to officers and was later spotted speeding northbound on Park Avenue West. Leach, a 2023 hire who was most recently assigned to District Three Patrol, was cited for reckless driving and eluding and has been reassigned while his criminal case moves forward, the release states.
Accountability Questions as Discipline Policy Shifts
The back-to-back incidents land at an awkward moment for DPD, which is already facing public scrutiny over how it disciplines officers. The department recently rolled out an education-first alternative to formal discipline for many low-level infractions. Reporting from Denverite notes critics, including the city’s independent monitor, worry the new approach could weaken accountability and leave residents with fewer clear answers when officers are accused of misconduct.
Legal Implications
Lucero’s citations for third-degree assault, official misconduct, and false reporting are criminal charges under Colorado law. Third-degree assault is a class 1 misdemeanor under C.R.S. 18-3-204, which can carry jail time and fines, according to Justia. Colorado legal analyses indicate false reporting, under C.R.S. 18-8-111, and official misconduct, under C.R.S. 18-8-404, may also result in misdemeanor or petty-offense penalties depending on the circumstances, per the Colorado Legal Defense Group.
Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue cases against the officers, what exact charges to file, and at what level. Any conviction or plea could affect an officer’s state certification and long-term career in law enforcement.
What Happens Next
The department says Lucero has been terminated and Leach reassigned while the criminal process plays out, with an administrative review of Leach’s conduct to follow any court action, as reported by the Denver Gazette. The cases are now in the hands of prosecutors and the courts. Officials have not released additional information about upcoming hearings or the condition of the person involved in the downtown altercation.
