A Denver Sheriff Department sergeant has been suspended for 40 days without pay for punching and scuffling with an inmate in a downtown jail cell.

During Sgt. Randolph Romero’s suspension, he is not to wear his uniform or exercise any power or authority granted to a deputy, according to the Denver Department of Safety disciplinary-determination letter obtained this week by The Denver Post.

“Provoking a physical conflict with an aggressive, agitated inmate put Sergeant Romero and other involved deputies in danger,” according to the disciplinary notification. “Sergeant Romero had several opportunities and ample time to remove himself from the situation and potentially avoid a use of force incident. There is a preponderance of evidence that Sergeant Romero used inappropriate force.”

Romero, a 29-year veteran of the sheriff’s office, was suspended for three days in 2003 for sexual harassment. He received a verbal reprimand in 2005 for an “erroneous release” of an inmate. Also, he was charged in August by the Denver district attorney’s office as a suspect in a March assault at the jail.

The latest suspension stems from an incident involving inmate Stephen K. Hamper. On March 31, Hamper had covered his cell lights, which is a safety and security violation. On April 1, Hamper had uncovered the lights. He wanted to leave his cell and use a phone, but a deputy told Hamper he was on lockdown because he had covered the cell light the day before. Hamper again covered the cell light, as well as the cell window, and he covered a cell camera with toilet paper.

Romero told internal investigators he went to Hamper’s cell, on April 1, to speak with him respectfully, “man to man,” about the covering issues and being on lockdown. Four deputies stood outside the cell, out of sight, when Romero entered.

After a heated conversation, including shouted threats from Hamper, Romero lunged at the inmate and threw a jab, according to the document. In the ensuing scuffle, Romero and Hamper exchanged punches, and other deputies rushed into the cell and wrestled Hamper to the floor as Romero continued punching him, according to the report.

Hamper was “treated for superficial wounds and abrasions to his head,” according to the investigative summary. Two of the deputies were injured.

During an Oct. 5 “contemplation of discipline hearing” on the incident, Chief Paul Oliva asked Romero: “Why … didn’t you step out and secure the door and … put another plan together?”

Romero answered: “It never crossed my mind, Chief. It never crossed my mind.”



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Hamper, who has a lengthy criminal record in Colorado, was arrested in September 2014 when he attacked a Denver police officer. In March 2017, a jury found him guilty of first-degree assault, criminal attempt to disarm a police officer and other charges. He also was determined to be a habitual criminal in connection to the crime and sentenced to 48 years in prison on the first-degree assault charge.

Hamper also faces two second-degree assault charges in connection with incidents this year inside the Downtown Detention Center. One charge stems from the April fight with Romero, while the other was filed after a July incident, according to the district attorney’s office.

After the incident, as part of an internal investigation, Hamper told an investigator that he wanted to make Romero mad.

Shona Biby, Hamper’s mother, said her son suffered a “bruised frontal lobe” head injury in the jail incident, as well as a neck injury. Biby, 52, of Oklahoma, said she believes Romero “baited and bullied” Hamper prior to the violent incident.

“He (Romero) did not have the will to walk away. If he did, it would have ended differently,” she said. “They had the opportunity to prevent the entire thing, but didn’t.”