Records Show How Much Accused Officers Used Force

DENVER (CBS4) - Last week Denver City Council approved the payout of $20,000 to a man who claimed he was beaten in LoDo by two Denver officers.

One of the officers reported using force nearly 20 times in the past 8 years and had more than a dozen complaints against him. The other filed use of force reports 17 times in 5 years. There were four complaints filed against him investigated by internal affairs.

The man who received the payout last week was intoxicated and had a past criminal record at the time of the incident recorded on a phone by passersby. The incident occurred near 19th and Market as the bars let out. James Watkins, 29, uttered derogatory words at two police officers.

"I don't think it was the smartest thing in the world, but it was within my rights," Watkins said.

The officers' statements claims Watkins bumped one of the policemen in the chest, then struck him with an elbow.

"He fought them and fought them for several minutes before they were able to take him under arrest and control," attorney Sean Olson said.

"The one cop walks up next to me and grabs my face and slams it to the ground," Watkins said.

Attorney Doug Romero represented Watkins.

"The reason why these cases are settling is there is video tape and witnesses behind them," Romero said.

Like other cases in recent incidents charges were filed against Watkins then dropped.

No disciplinary action was taken against the officers involved. The case was set to go to trial in federal court earlier this month. The city had offered $5,000 then finally settled for the $20,000 just before the trial was to begin.