About Us

Mission

The Commission will adhere to the City Charter, the City’s Code of Ethics, and we will endeavor to certify the best qualified candidates for employment and promotions that represent the diversity of the community we serve. This will enable the Commission to not only meet but exceed our responsibilities to the Mayor, City Council, Denver Police and Fire Departments, respective unions, employee organizations and the Citizens of Denver.

The Denver Civil Service Commission through its appointed Commissioners, Executive Director and respected staff do hereby affirm our Mission Statement.

Purpose

The Commission is responsible for administering the testing process for entry-level and promotional positions within the Denver Police and Fire Departments, policy administration, and hearing disciplinary appeals of classified members.

Effective January 16, 2009

It is the policy of the Civil Service Commission (“Commission”) that its employees, contract employees, temporary workers, and applicants for employment or promotion with the Commission or Classified Service of the Denver Fire Department or Denver Police Department have a right to be free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based upon actual or perceived race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, age, gender/sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or caregiver status), marital status, military status, religion, political affiliation, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or regulation.

1. Examples of conduct that could violate this policy include but are not limited to:
   1. Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory comments, slurs, unwanted sexual advances, invitations, or comments;
   2. Visual conduct such as derogatory posters, photographs, cartoons, drawings, or gestures;
   3. Physical conduct such as assault, unwanted touching, blocking normal movement, or interfering with work directed at a person because of a protected basis;
   4. Threats or demands to submit to sexual requests in order to keep a job or avoid some other negative consequence, and offers of job benefits in return for sexual favors;
   5. Basing an employment decision (such as hiring, promotion, discipline, pay increase, job assignment, or termination) on any of the protected categories identified above; and
   6. Retaliation for good faith reporting, opposing, or otherwise participating in a complaint or investigation process concerning potential violations of this policy. 
      
      
2. Individuals who believe they are being subjected to prohibited discrimination or harassment are strongly encouraged to make it clear to the offending employee that such behavior is offensive and should be discontinued. 
   
   
3. Any alleged violations of this policy should be promptly reported to any of the following:
   1. The Executive Director of the Commission;
   2. The supervisor of the Commission’s Human Resources unit;
   3. Any member of the Board of Commissioners; or
   4. The Executive Director of the City’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations. The HRCR will present the matter to the City Attorney’s Office (specifically, the Litigation Section’s Employment Law group), for further investigative action.
      
      

   A report or complaint of discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation may be made verbally or in writing. Any person reporting a potential violation of this policy or otherwise participating in the complaint or investigation process should understand that confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible but that absolute confidentiality and anonymity cannot be guaranteed.

4. If the supervisor of the Human Resources unit, the Executive Director of the Commission, or any member of the Board of Commissioners becomes aware, by any formal or informal means, of possible discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, such person must take prompt, reasonable actions to stop any prohibited behavior. Additionally, the supervisor of the Human Resources unit or the Executive Director of the Commission must promptly report any information concerning the possible prohibited behavior to the Board of Commissioners.
   
   
5. The Commission maintains “zero tolerance” regarding violations of this policy, meaning the Commission will not knowingly tolerate acts of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Allegations about potential violations of this policy will be taken seriously and the Commission will promptly undertake reasonable steps to address all allegations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. If an investigation is deemed necessary, it will be conducted promptly, thoroughly, and impartially. Appropriate actions may include, but are not limited to, discipline (up to and including termination), training, mediation, or other effective remedial action commensurate with the severity of the offense and any such actions will occur as soon as practicable for even a single violation of the policy.
   
   
6. Retaliation is strictly prohibited against any employee or applicant who has in good faith:
   1. Opposed conduct that potentially violates this policy, including but not limited to making a complaint or protest on behalf of another individual;
   2. Reported conduct that the employee experienced or observed and reasonably believes to constitute a potential violation of this policy; or
   3. Assisted or participated in an investigation, claim, lawsuit, or hearing concerning a complaint of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. This includes but is not limited to making a report or complaint or providing a witness interview during an investigation.
      
      

   Retaliation is conduct taken against an employee or applicant because the employee or applicant has engaged in any of the above-listed protected activities. Retaliation can include but is not limited to such acts as disciplining an employee, giving an employee a negative performance evaluation, refusing to recommend an individual for a benefit for which he or she qualifies, giving an employee a less desirable job assignment, spreading rumors about an individual, encouraging hostility from co-workers, and escalating harassment. Any Commission employee engaging in or encouraging retaliation will be subject to appropriate disciplinary actions.

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Gracie Perez is a solutions-driven, organized leader who brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning, policy development, process improvement and decision-making in public service.

Gracie joins the CSC with a robust resume, including her most recent role as State & Regional Operations Director for Texas Health & Human Services - Access & Eligibility Services, where she led a team of over 6,000 employees. She has demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion combined with experience in talent acquisition, organizational change management, and stakeholder collaboration.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Literature, enjoys reading and loves spending time with her husband and two sons. 

Commissioner Stout was appointed to the Commission in September 2021. He is an attorney based in Denver. He attended the University of Montana School of Law and works in public interest law. He has previously worked as a policy analyst, teacher, and campaign advisor. In addition, he was appointed to sit on the District Accountability Committee for Denver Public Schools, Community Planning & Advisory Committee for the DPS Bond and serves as a board member for Montbello Organizing Committee, Colorado Youth Congress, and Northeast Park Hill Coalition.  A graduate of Gonzaga University, Noah loves exploring Colorado, trying new foods, and spending time with his wife Sarah and daughters Sofia and Eloise.

Amber Miller is a communications and public affairs professional who has built her career right here in Denver. Today, she is the Communications Director for Governor Jared Polis’ reelection campaign. Before this, Amber built her career serving as a communications director for a national advocacy non-profit and at the City and County of Denver for nearly a decade. She also serves on the Imagination Library of Denver board and is committed to bettering and advancing our great Centennial State. Amber lives in Denver with her partner and two dogs. She is a self-admitted Colorado enthusiast who loves cooking, traveling and skiing. 

Appointed by Mayor Mike Johnston in November 2023, Commissioner Gardner currently serves as the executive director of Denver’s Department of General Services. Under his direction, the department provides integral support of more than 40 City and County of Denver agencies, departments, and offices. This includes maintenance, operations, and security for nearly six million square feet in 140 city-maintained facilities and structures, procurement spending, and management of the city’s utility payments. In his first 100 days leading General Services, he has leaned heavily on his strengths in budget formation, team building, and strategic management to restructure the department to support city services more efficiently. Among the areas he has identified as priorities are increasing facilities staff to support Mayor Johnston’s House1000 initiative, creating an operational playbook for onboarding new shelter facilities, and exploring ways to improve the city’s procurement process through de-siloing and consolidation.

Prior to his city appointment, he held a pivotal role as the head of IT and security at Denver-based startup hospitality company Inspirato, steering them toward a successful IPO in 2022. His visionary approach and technological acumen helped the company scale new heights in a challenging market. Previously, his tenure as vice president of IT at Salud Family Health, Colorado’s second largest federally qualified health care organization, underlined his commitment to bettering communities through technology. Beyond his professional pursuits, Commissioner Gardner is deeply committed to his community, actively participating in several citywide boards and commissions. Notable roles include serving on the Denver African American Commission, the Denver Citizens Oversight Board, where he served as chair, and his current position as a commissioner on the Denver Civil Service Commission Board. He has also contributed to the advisory boards of the Denver Police Department Chief’s Advisory Board and the Denver Sheriff’s Advisory Board. In addition, he also serves as a board member of the Colorado Technology Association and as an adjunct instructor for the University of Denver School of Technology and Communications. His exceptional leadership at Inspirato during the pandemic earned him the prestigious C-suite award from the Denver Business Journal. His journey was also featured in the PBS Road Trip Nation documentary series "Leaders".

A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, he cherishes quality time spent with family, friends, and the community. He holds both a bachelor's and a master’s degree in business administration, emphasizing his commitment to academic excellence in addition to his professional achievements.

Commissioner Steven Foster is a Global Executive Leader, renowned for combining strategy, fiduciary responsibility, and leadership expertise to deliver substantial impact in highly competitive environments. Strong business acumen with years of experience developing and implementing strategic change and community engagement initiatives while fostering a more inclusive environment. Expertise in resource management, strategic planning, leadership development, team building, and mentoring. Collaborative communicator and leader continually focused on advocacy and representation promoting cooperation within diverse and inclusive organizations, to ensure equitable outcomes.

Commissioner Foster is the CEO and Founder of Connect13, LLC and has served as board member and Chairman of the Board on several organizations, including Convercent, Colorado Technology Association, Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. As an honorably discharged member of the United States Air Force, Commissioner Foster has served our country. He has also received the Distinguished Service Cross and Life Saving Medal from the Aurora Police Department while serving the community. 

Greg has 40-year career in newspapers that was capped by 14 years as editor in chief of The Denver Post, where under his leadership the newspaper won for consecutive Pulitzer Prizes, including for its coverage of the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012. One of best-known editors in the country, Greg was a co-chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board, where he served as a member for nine years. He also was on the board of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and was an instructor at The Poynter Institute for Media Studies. He joined The Post in 2002 and led the newsroom during a time of transition to become one of the best regional newspapers in the United States. He directed coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, at which Barack Obama accepted his party’s nomination for president. Rebuilt the paper’s online news operation, created Denver Post TV, a daily video news program, and hired the nation’s first marijuana editor at a mainstream news organization after the recreational use of marijuana was legalized in January 2013.

After retiring from The Denver Post, he was brought on as a partner at Deke Digital, a Colorado-based thought leadership company that helps C-suite executives produce and publish op-ed and analysis articles in major newspapers and magazines, including The Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, Fortune, and Forbes. As editor-in-chief, Greg oversaw the creation of over 700 articles between 2017 and spring of 2023, when he left to start his own business. As the founder and CEO of Klowtify, he is committed to helping small and medium sized businesses, especially enterprises led by women and people of color, to get into the thought leadership game to build their brands, elevate their profiles and grow their businesses. The suite of services the company offers includes social media management, communications strategy, and brand enhancement.  

Before moving to Denver, Greg worked at The Boston Globe from 1986 to 2002, where he quickly rose through the ranks from city editor to managing editor, a position he held for eight years.  At the Globe he supervised virtually every significant local news story during that period, including escalating gang violence in the city, Nelson Mandela’s historic visit to Boston in 1990, the controversial Charles Stuart murder case, the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, in which two Boston jetliners were crashed into the World Trade Center towers. He also initiated the Spotlight investigation that uncovered the pedophile priest scandal in the Catholic Church, which won The Globe a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003.

Greg began his journalism career in 1976 as a government reporter at The Journal Herald in Dayton, Ohio and then worked at The Plain Dealer in Cleveland where he reported on government and politics. He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University where he earned a BA in journalism and political science. Greg is very involved in public service. He recently served as a co-chair of the transition team for new Denver Mayor Michael Johnston and is a trustee at Boettcher Foundation, the University of Denver, and Polaris, the anti-human trafficking organization in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Robert G. McGruder Award for Media Diversity, Kent State University, 2003; Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists; the Benjamin C. Bradlee Editor of the Year Award from the National Press Foundation, Hall of Excellence Inductee, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges