Denver Sheriff Deparbnent

County Jail Div,sion

I~~
~~ SHERIFF P.O. Box 1108
Denver, co 80201
DEPARTMENT www.denvergov org/sherjff
" DENVER PUBLIC SAFETY

To: Captain Juranek

From: Sergeant Joseph Bowen S05068

Subject: D/S Kemble-failure to act

Captain Juranek,

Today at approximately 1850, I spoke with civilian GED volunteer Becky Graham. She informed me
that inmate 810845 had confided in her on Tuesday 1/23/1 8 that he wanted to hang
himself and that she had notified a staff member. She told me that the staff member told her that inmate
would have to ask for assistance on his own. She informed me that the incident happened at
about 2015 at the upstairs Officer's desk in Building 20. She informed me that the Deputy she told was
working at main corridor security today when she came in. I thanked Becky Graham and immediately
escorted inmate to Buildins 4 where he was evaluated by RN Brenna and placed on the
psychology line.

I then responded to main corridor security and spoke with D/S Kemble. I asked him if a civilian had told
him that an inmate was suicidal on Tuesday. D/S Kemble said "yes." I asked him why he didn't do
anY,thing. He stated that he didn't really know what to do since the inmate hadn't said anything to him. I
asked him why it would be any different than if the inmate had told him directly. D/S Kemble did not
immediately respond and our conversation was interrupted. I then told him I would get back with him
later.

Later, I told D/S Kemble that I needed to see him in the Captain's Office and he requested D/S Gonzales
serve as his employee representative. Both Deputies Gonzales and Kemble joined myself and Captain
Juranek in the Captain's Office. I then asked Deputy Kemble ifhe had told the civilian that the inmate
would have to get help on his own. At this point D/S Kemble denied saying this to the civilian and in
fact denied having a conversation with the civilian.

I was slightly confused because D/S Kemble had earlier told me that he had been informed by the civilian
of the suicidal inmate. I stated this to D/S Kemble. He stated that they didn't have a conversation and
that she had only gave him a hand signal indicating a noose and that he didn't even know who the inmate
was to whom she was referring. I then told D/S Kemble that the civilian had told me that she has spoken
with him and that she had told him that the inmate had stated that he wanted to hang himself and that the
civilian stated that he told her that the inmate would have to request help on his own. I asked him
directly if this was true. D/S Kemble stated that he did not know and that it was possible, but that he had
no memory of it. He also stated that if he messed up he would take responsibility for it. Captain J uranek
asked him why he had not followed up on the hand signal. D/S Kemble stated that he did not know and
that he should have.

I then asked D/S Kemble to tell me what policy would require him to do if he had in fact been told by a
civilian that an inmate was suicidal. D/S Kemble stated that he would be required to notify a Supervisor
and get the inmate screened by medical.
As part of the investigation, I reviewed the video of tli.is incident. The following is a timeline:

20:22:56 - Inmate and Civlian Becky Graham are the only people left in 20G and the only
people on the 2nd floor; thus they are D/S Kemble's only focus and responsibility. Inmate is
talking with Civilian Becky Graham inside the pod at the tables. Inmate appears to be crying
and wipes his eyes.

20:23:02 - Inmate makes a noose motion with his hand while speaking with Civilian Becky
Graham

20:23:06- Inmate makes a second noose motion

20:23:20- Inmate wipes his eyes a second time

20:23:28 - Inmate makes a 3 rd noose this time more subtly with both hands.

20:23:37, 40, and 55 - Inmate wipes eyes 3n1, 4 th, and 5th times

20:24: 10 - Inmate and Civilian Becky Graham start walking out of pod

20:25: 10 - Inmate and Civilian Becky Graham have been talking near the door. Inmate
is now in the doorway to 200 in full view of D/S Kemble. Inmate wipes his eyes a
th
6 time.

20:25:36- Inmate is directed to go down the stairs by D/S Kemble.

20:26:38 - Inmate is now down the stairs. Civilian Becky Graham turns to D/S Kemble and
appears to be speaking with him.

20:26:56 - Civilian Becky Graham makes a noose signal while talking to D/S Kemble.

20:27:13 -Civilian Becky Graham turns and goes down the stairs.

From my video review, I have determined that D/S Kemble missed 3 opportunities to see noose signals
on the video screen which was right in front of him the whole time. In addition, he missed 5
opportunities on video to see that inmate was upset and crying. D/S Kemble also missed one
opportunity when inmate was right in front of him and likely either missed or ignored
conversational cues while was speaking to Becky Graham in the doorway for about a minute.

It is also clear that civilian Becky Graham told D/S Kemble about the suicidal statements which likely
means that D/S Kemble's response was as reported by Civilian Becky Graham.

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