Health and Safety Committee Meeting: Al Gardner Appointment - November 12, 2025

The Health and Safety Committee of the Denver City Council met on November 12, 2025, at 9:30 AM to consider the mayoral appointment of Al Gardner as Executive Director of the Department of Safety. The meeting featured extensive questioning from council members regarding Gardner's qualifications, experience, and vision for public safety. After discussion, the committee voted to advance the appointment to the full City Council.

Consent Calendar

• Six consent agenda items not called out were passed unanimously without further discussion.

Discussion Items

• Mayoral Appointment of Al Gardner as Executive Director of Department of Safety: Councilmember Sawyer, who called the item off consent, expressed respect for the mayor's appointment authority but noted community concerns about Gardner lacking law enforcement, legal, or firefighting experience. She asked how he would build trust with paramilitary safety agencies and the community. Gardner responded that the position was intentionally designed for a civilian, citing historical precedent (six of the prior 16 managers also lacked law enforcement backgrounds). He highlighted his service on the Citizens Oversight Board and Civil Service Commission as providing insight into discipline systems, and emphasized his efforts to build trust by being honest with unions and spending time on ride-alongs and community visits.
• Councilmember Flynn asked why a civilian is best for the role. Gardner analogized to civilian control of the military, stressed the value of a 360-degree perspective, and explained how his oversight and commission work inform a holistic approach to safety, including budget, discipline, and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Councilmember Torres noted Gardner's trajectory from Citizens Oversight Board to General Services, and asked how those experiences inform his leadership. Gardner described volunteer service as a path to understanding city government, and cited General Services as giving him cross-functional relationships and a focus on "getting to yes."
• Council President Pro Tempore Romero Campbell inquired about transferable skills from Gardner's 28-year technology and business career. Gardner detailed his work in multiple verticals, his ability to synthesize data, and his focus on operational efficiencies, technology roadmaps, and total cost of ownership for safety equipment.
• Councilmember Cashman emphasized the need for a public health perspective, and Gardner affirmed his focus on prevention, community corrections, and gang intervention groups, citing the need to fund holistic safety rather than just enforcement.
• Councilmember Perry asked for one specific change Gardner would make. He pointed to improving the discipline process by including more stakeholders at the table and enhancing budget forecasting and communication with the council. She also asked about his view on the city's Flock Safety contract; Gardner stressed the need for strong data governance, AI policy, and retention policies.
• Councilmember Alvidrez expressed concerns about trust given recent administration actions (e.g., safety cameras, commission resignations) and asked how Gardner would rebuild trust. Gardner emphasized a forward-looking approach, internal collaboration first, and a shift from defensive to transparent communication.
• Councilmember Lewis asked about community engagement with hard-to-reach groups. Gardner acknowledged the need for a targeted approach, including inviting skeptical community members into the Police Administration Building for dialogue. She also asked his philosophy on safety: he defined it holistically, emphasizing prevention and enforcement with humanity, and addressed the "defund the police" narrative by advocating for data-driven resource allocation that does not undercut enforcement but invests in root causes.
• Council President Sandoval raised issues of trust between council and the administration, citing a budget decision that cut mental health funding without prior notification. She urged Gardner to proactively partner with council. Gardner pledged to honor that commitment and noted the importance of listening.
• Councilmember Alvidrez asked who Gardner would turn to for scholarly advice. He named academic contacts at MSU and DU, and said he is relying on an academic to help create a safety roadmap to avoid internal bias.

Key Outcomes

• Councilmember Sawyer moved to approve the appointment of Al Gardner as Executive Director of the Department of Safety. The motion was seconded.
• The committee voted by acclamation (thumbs up) to advance the item to the full City Council for final action. No opposing votes were noted.
• The item was scheduled for action at the next full council meeting (week of November 17, 2025).
• The other six consent agenda items passed unanimously.