Denver residents will vote in the upcoming municipal election on a charter amendment that reshapes how the city hires, manages and disciplines its police and fire personnel. The measure, known as Referred Question 2J, seeks to update the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Safety by removing antiquated language, giving the City Council flexibility to add duties through code, and allowing extensions of probation for employees on medical, military or other approved leave.

Key changes outlined in the proposal

The amendment touches numerous sections of the charter. Some changes are largely technical, such as moving detailed hiring requirements from the charter to city ordinance so they can be more easily adjusted by council. Other adjustments are more substantive:

• Extending the period the public safety manager has to review disciplinary matters from 15 calendar days to 20 business days.
• Eliminating caps on the number of command staffers in each service, giving departments greater flexibility in leadership structures.
• Allowing probationary periods to be lengthened when an employee must take extended leave, a flexibility not currently permitted.
• Removing the phrase “shall be of good moral character” from applicant qualifications, a term described as undefined and ambiguous.
• Implementing gender‑neutral language throughout the affected charter sections.
• Removing the U.S. citizenship requirement for members of the Civil Service Commission, noting that Denver voters have already eliminated that requirement for police and fire job applicants.

One provision would also eliminate a section that sets longevity‑pay requirements, a matter already handled in collective bargaining agreements.

Support and process

The amendment was drafted after a year‑long series of meetings with city agencies, labor unions and a charter‑review task force. Councilmember Jamie Torres, who helped shepherd the proposal, called the effort “just a good governance process” and praised the collaboration with “wonderful folks.”

Both the Denver Police Department and the Denver Fire Department have publicly endorsed the amendment. Fire Chief Desmond Fulton wrote, “These changes will allow the Fire Department to operate more effectively while preserving the integrity and protections of the Civil Service system.”

Ballot placement and opposition

The Denver City Council voted unanimously in August to place the measure on the ballot. To date, no organized campaign has registered to oppose the amendment, and no money has been reported on either side of the issue.

Voters who support the amendment argue it modernizes outdated charter language, provides needed flexibility for staffing decisions, and aligns the city’s civil‑service rules with current operational realities. Critics, though not formally organized, might view the removal of citizenship requirements for commission members as a departure from traditional standards.

What voters need to know

When casting their ballots, Denver voters should consider how the proposed changes could affect the efficiency and accountability of their police and fire services. The amendment does not alter core public‑safety functions but seeks to streamline administrative processes and remove language that officials say hampers effective governance.

For more information on the exact wording of the amendment and its potential impact, voters can review the memo released by Councilmember Torres’ office or attend upcoming city‑council information sessions.

Original reporting: Denverite — read the source article.