Mayor Suthers responds to negative CSPD image

Two big developments are both shining a negative light on Colorado Springs Police in the past few days. First, a young woman files a police brutality lawsuit, and now an officer is on administrative leave accused of misconduct.

“I want to make sure people are held accountable for violation of law or rights of citizens,” said Mayor John Suthers.

Suthers says he takes every accusation of misconduct by a police officer seriously.

“We’re not going to tolerate any sort of corruption or excessive force,” said Suthers.

Colorado Springs Police detective Paul Patton is on administrative leave with pay. Patton faces charges of attempting to influence a public servant, first-degree official misconduct and false reporting to authorities.

Patton, is out of jail, after paying a $3,000 bond early Tuesday morning.

This, comes after Alexis Acker filed a civil lawsuit against Colorado Springs Police Friday.

Surveillance video released earlier this month from Memorial shows Acker, then 18, in handcuffs. It shows Officer Tyler Walker pushing her onto a chair, Acker kicking him, then Walker shoving her onto the ground.

“Officers get in confrontational situations and often times those situations can lead to disputes. You have to examine if there is an individual officer acting badly or if we have a problem in our training,” said Suthers.

While these latest incidents are concerning to mayor Suthers, he says they’re not problematic.

“Based on what I’ve seen in 30 years, I have no reason to believe there are cultural or systemic problems in the police department,” said Suthers.

As of Tuesday morning, officer Patton is out on a $3,000 bond.