Retired Denver police are concerned that a perception among active duty officers that the Manager of Safety is leveling overly harsh discipline will lead officers to avoid confrontation with law breakers, former Police Chief Jim Collier said today.

“We support law and order and the need for assertive, active police officers who are not afraid to be interactive and curious, to look at what’s going on around them, and to fulfill their duties without feeling like their every action could be grounds for discipline,” Collier said. “We firmly believe that should law and order be pushed aside, we’re not going to like what moves in to take its place.”

Collier was Denver chief under Mayor Wellington Webb from September 1991 to October 1992.

This year eight officers have been fired, six by Manager of Safety Charles Garcia, who took office in March, and two by his predecessor, Mary Malatesta.

The union that represents police claims that Garcia, a former public defender, doesn’t understand the difficulties of controlling suspects on the street.

“We are in hopes that the Mayor-elect will review the office of Manager of Safety, and should he retain that position, he appoint a person with no perception of, or demonstrated bias towards the various departments, and that person have at least a basic understanding of police procedure,” Collier said.

Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com