Denver Police Use of Force Records - Request Guide

Public Safety Colorado 3 Minutes Read · published February 07, 2026 Flag of Colorado

In Denver, Colorado, residents can request police use-of-force records under public records rules administered by the City and by state law. This guide explains where to ask, what records are typically available, likely redactions, and practical steps to obtain incident reports, officer statements, body-worn camera footage, and aggregated use-of-force datasets.

How to start a request

Begin with Denver’s official Open Records request process and the Denver Police Records unit. Identify the incident date, location, involved officer names or badge numbers if known, and any case numbers. Specify the formats you want (redacted PDF, video, audio, or electronic dataset) and whether you seek aggregated use-of-force statistics.

Typical channels include an online portal or a written request submitted to Denver’s records office; response times and exemptions follow municipal procedures and applicable state law. For dataset access, Denver’s open data catalog publishes use-of-force incident records that may already contain the information you need.[1][2][3]

Requests should be as specific as possible to speed processing.

Penalties & Enforcement

Municipal and state rules govern access, disclosure, and enforcement. Specific civil penalties, fines, or fee caps for denial or mishandling of open records requests are not specified on the cited municipal pages and may be governed by state statute or court remedies; see the cited official pages for remedies and complaint routes.[1]

  • Fines or monetary penalties: not specified on the cited page.
  • Enforcement and remedies: complaints may be filed with the City Open Records office or pursued under state open-records law; specifics and timelines are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary orders: records offices can issue disclosure determinations and require redaction; court review may be available if denied.
  • Responsible office: Denver Open Records and Denver Police Records unit handle requests and complaints.[1]
If an emergency or ongoing criminal investigation is cited, access may be delayed or limited.

Applications & Forms

Denver provides an Open Records request form or online portal for submissions; if no specific form is required, you may submit a written request outlining the records sought. Fee estimates, official form names or numbers, and specific submission addresses are provided on Denver’s Open Records and Police Records pages referenced below.[1]

What records are commonly available and redactions

  • Incident reports and use-of-force reports (often redacted for personal data).
  • Body-worn camera and squad-car video—may be partially redacted or withheld for privacy or investigation reasons.
  • Officer statements and disciplinary records—often withheld or redacted if personnel privacy or ongoing internal investigations apply.
  • Aggregated datasets and summary statistics available via Denver’s open data catalog.
Public safety interests and privacy rules are common bases for redaction.

Action steps

  • Prepare a written request with incident details and preferred formats.
  • Submit the request via Denver’s Open Records portal or deliver to the Police Records unit; request clarifications promptly if the office asks.
  • Pay any assessed copying or processing fees; ask for an estimate before payment.
  • If denied, follow the office’s administrative appeal or seek judicial review under applicable state open-records law.

FAQ

Who can request police use-of-force records?
Any member of the public or organization may request records, subject to exemptions and redactions under municipal rules and state law.
How long does Denver take to respond?
Response time depends on case complexity and backlog; specific municipal timelines or statutory response periods are provided on the Open Records page cited below.[1]
Are body-worn camera videos public?
Body-worn camera footage may be public but often is redacted or temporarily withheld for privacy or active investigations; see the Police Records guidance cited below.[3]

How-To

  1. Identify the incident: date, location, officer badge number, and any report or case number.
  2. Complete Denver’s Open Records request form or prepare a written request with the details and desired formats.
  3. Submit the request through the official portal or to the Police Records unit and keep a copy of your submission.
  4. If you receive a denial, follow the administrative appeal process on the Open Records page or consult the instructions for judicial review.

Key Takeaways

  • Be specific in your request to reduce processing time.
  • Some records may be redacted or withheld for privacy or investigative reasons.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Denver Open Records - Request and Contact
  2. [2] Denver Open Data Catalog (search Use of Force datasets)
  3. [3] Denver Police Records Unit - Contact and Records Requests

Categories

General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data