Denver to pay $45oK to family of teen who died while officers watched

The city of Denver will pay $450,000 to the family of an 18-year-old shooting victim who bled to death while two Denver police officers watched for more than 10 minutes and did nothing.

Jalonte Jones, 18, died Sept. 7, 2020, on the pavement outside an apartment complex in the care of Officer Dewayne Rodgers and Officer David Clough. Neither officer rendered first aid even as Jones begged for help, according to a Denver Department of Public Safety disciplinary letter.

Public safety officials found that it’s reasonable to assume Jones would’ve been alive when paramedics arrived had Rodgers acted.

“At no time did Officer Rodgers crouch down near the victim,” the disciplinary letter stated. “At no time did Officer Rodgers touch the victim. At no time did Officer Rodgers offer words of comfort. The callous lack of humanity that Officer Rodgers displayed is best exemplified by his response to the victim saying ‘Oh my God, help me,’ when Officer Rodgers replied, ‘Do you live in this complex?’”

Rodgers was fired Nov. 22, 2021, because of his inaction. Clough resigned before the disciplinary investigation finished.

Denver City Council unanimously approved the settlement Monday as part of its consent agenda, a signal of a lack of controversy or disagreement around the vote.