Charter amendment modernizing Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety
Denver · November 3, 2026
The question on your ballot
Shall the Charter of the City and County of Denver be amended to modernize the Civil Service Commission and Department of Safety by removing outdated language, giving City Council the ability to add duties via code, and providing for an extension of probation when required for medical, military, or other approved leave?
In plain language
A VoterDecoder summary of the official measure text.
Denver Referred Question 2J would update the city charter's rules for the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Safety. It would remove outdated language and let City Council add duties by ordinance. It would remove the limits on command staff assignments, which are now set at 7 for the fire department and 18 for the police department. It would allow probation to be extended when an employee takes medical, military, or other approved leave. A YES vote makes these changes. A NO vote keeps the current charter language.
Fiscal impact
The official fiscal statement says city leaders would decide any increase in command staff. They would base the choice on department need. Command staff have historically received pay raises that match the bargaining unit. The Department of Finance estimates a de minimis financial impact if authorized strength does not change.
Official explanation
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT
The Charter amendment would strike, “The total number of command assignments 32 permitted by this section at any one time shall not exceed seven (7)” from Section 9.5.2 of Charter. Any decision to increase the number of Denver Fire Department command staff would be determined by city leaders based on department need. Historically, command staff have received an equivalent pay increase to members within the bargaining unit. The Department of Finance estimates an increase in the number of command staff would have a de minimis financial impact if there were no change to authorized strength.
The Charter amendment would also strike, “The total number of command assignments permitted by this section at any one time shall not exceed eighteen (18)” from section 9.6.3 of Charter. Any decision to increase the number of Denver Police Department command staff would be determined by city leaders based on department need. Historically, command staff have received an equivalent pay increase to members within the bargaining unit. The Department of Finance estimates an increase in the number of command staff would have a de minimis financial impact if there were no change to authorized strength.
Arguments for and against
Only one side filed an official argument for the voter guide. It is printed as submitted; the other side is a summary written by VoterDecoder.
Argument in favor
VOTE YES: Modernize Denver's Civil Service and Public Safety Rules
Voting YES on this measure is good governance that will update outdated Charter rules that govern Denver’s Civil Service Commission and public safety system. These rules originated in 1904 and have been changed piece by piece over time, but parts of the Charter no longer match current operations or administrative needs.
This measure moves the public safety cadet program to the Manager of Safety section of the Charter, updates gendered language, updates timelines for disciplinary review and investigations, and removes the citizenship requirement to serve on the Civil Service Commission. It also moves certain administrative details from the Charter into the Denver Revised Municipal Code.
Voting YES will allow probation periods to be extended when employees take medical, military or other approved leave. It also removes strict caps on police and fire command staff assignments, giving the departments more flexibility to adjust their leadership structure to support future staffing needs as the City grows.
This is a modernization measure, not an overhaul. It updates outdated language, timelines, and administrative rules to allow Denver’s Civil Service Commission and public safety system to work more effectively today and adapt in the future.
Vote YES to keep Denver's civil service system fair, modern, and ready for the future.
Argument against
No official argument against was submitted.
Voters who want the command staff limits in the Denver Fire and Police departments kept in the charter could vote NO. The current charter sets the fire limit at 7 and the police limit at 18 assignments. Under the measure, city leaders would decide command staffing based on department need. Voters who want City Council to keep changes to department duties in the charter could vote NO. The measure would let Council add duties by ordinance instead. Voters who prefer that probation periods not be extended for medical, military, or other approved leave could also vote NO. A NO vote keeps the current charter language on these subjects.
What supporters and opponents say — outside sources (not official ballot arguments)
Statements by campaigns, officials and news coverage, quoted with attribution and linked to the original. VoterDecoder did not write them and does not endorse either side.
Supporters say
No public statements in favor were found.
Opponents say
No public statements against were found.