Two Denver police officers fired for lying about their involvement in a videotaped beating outside a LoDo bar have appealed their terminations to a District Court judge, the latest development in a disciplinary case that remains unresolved more than four years later.

The city’s Civil Service Commission ruled last month that Officer Devin Sparks and Cpl. Randy Murr should stay off the job. A District Court judge now must determine whether the commission overstepped its bounds in doing so. An attorney representing the officers filed the appeal Monday afternoon.

Sparks and Murr were accused of inappropriate force in arresting Michael DeHerrera in April 2009 and lying about it. The incident began when DeHerrera and his friend were arrested outside a LoDo nightclub. A city surveillance camera captured what happened next. The friend, handcuffed and surrounded by officers, lay facedown on the street while DeHerrera stood several feet away on the sidewalk, talking to his father on his cellphone. Sparks is seen approaching him, grabbing him and throwing him down. Sparks slams the door on DeHerrera’s ankle while placing him in a squad car.

Then-Safety Manager Ron Perea suspended the officers, but the light punishment sparked a public outcry that led police to reopen the investigation. The officers were then fired, reinstated and fired again before appealing to a civil service hearing panel, which upheld Sparks’ termination but reversed Murr’s.

The city and Sparks each appealed that ruling to the full commission, which said both officers lied and were rightly fired. Video footage of the incident did not support the officers’ claims that the force used was necessary because DeHerrera took a swing and tried to hit Sparks. They have said the video did not show their perceptions of the encounter.

It will likely be months before the judge issues a decision in the latest appeal.

City Attorney Scott Martinez acknowledged receipt of the appeal and said “we look forward to resolving the matter.”

Sean Olson, the officers’ attorney, was unavailable for comment.

Sadie Gurman: 303-954-1661, sgurman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/sgurman