Denver Police Chief Quits Over Affair With Female Officer

Police Chief Tom Coogan has resigned as head of Denver’s 1,400-member police force, saying he had shown poor judgment by having an affair with a policewoman, Mayor Federico Pena said Friday.

Chief Coogan quit because his conduct had failed his own high standards, said Pena, who accepted the resignation Thursday.

Coogan, 51, admitted to Pena that “after proceedings to end his marriage had ended, he had formed a personal relationship with a female officer in the department,” the mayor said.

Coogan, who repeatedly said his department and its officers should be beyond reproach, was not pressured to resign the post he held since 1983, Pena said.

No internal investigation was conducted.

“He realized his conduct was not in the best interest of the city and the Police Department,” Pena said. Coogan could not be reached for comment.

Pena named Rudy Phannenstiel, a 27-year veteran, as interim chief.