Denver executive fired after complaining about lower standards for police

The executive director of Denver’s Civil Service Commission was fired Tuesday for claiming the city was lowering its safety standards to fill open spots in the police and fire departments due to political pressure from the mayor’s office.

Niecy Murray claimed she was unfairly let go after she raised the alarm that the city was cutting corners to hire unqualified applicants due to a quota put in place by Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston’s office. In her role as head of Denver’s Civil Service Commission, Murray evaluated candidates for the city’s police and fire departments.