Denver Police Detective Vina Maciel-Diaz is a highly capable, well-regarded classified member of the Denver Civil Service. In addition to winning awards at even the state level for her work, being quickly promoted to co-lead investigator on a multi-jurisdictional task force, and regularly agreeing to be the face of DPD’s recruiting and community outreach efforts, Detective Maciel-Diaz maintained personal social media accounts that were designed to create a positive and encouraging community for Latinas in and interested in law enforcement around the world. After other officers complained that she was being sexually provocative on the internet (she was not), as evidenced by unwelcome sexual harassment from social media commenters, DPD disciplined Detective Maciel-Diaz and assigned her alleged misconduct the third highest discipline severity rating possible. The proceedings against her are dripping with animosity toward her gender, sex, race, ethnicity, and age; they rely on a vague and unenforceable rule; and they deny her right to free expression. When DPD learned that she intended to challenge the disciplinary action against her, the workplace retaliation began, including DPD’s intentional creation of serious risks to Detective Maciel-Diaz’s physical safety.
We admire Detective Maciel-Diaz’s unwavering self-respect and refusal to submit to DPD’s efforts to shame her. We are responding to DPD’s characterization of Detective Maciel-Diaz as the reason no one takes them seriously. The agency’s tone deaf efforts to scapegoat her for its inability to end police violence, treat people fairly (officers and civilians alike), engage in honest law enforcement, etc., is what we are addressing together. The world needs more officers like Detective Maciel-Diaz, and that is why we proudly support her.
Listen to Detective Maciel-Diaz talk about her journey of growing up in a small village in Mexico where women were expected to stay home and raise children, to serving three tours of duty as a United States Marine, to becoming a Denver police officer dedicated to the people she serves.
Discriminatory Discipline vs. Professional Record:
“Detective Maciel-Diaz has failed to recognize the nature of her content or take ownership for the consequences of her suggestive postings to the professional image of the department, or the damage to female officers who continually strive to be recognized as competent, able professionals and not mere sexual objects.”
— Mary Dulacki, Deputy Executive Director of Safety
“Would you agree that handcuffs have been sexualized in popular culture?”
— Emily Anderson, Assistant City Attorney
“[Detective Maciel-Diaz] is either very naive or very arrogant as her view is short-sited [sic] and a bit self-centered.”
— Carrie Clein, Denver Civil Service Commission Hearing Officer
“Denver Police Officer Vina Maciel is hereby commended for her outstanding investigative efforts and dedication to the safety and well-being of the community.”
— Vanessa Wilson, Chief of Aurora Police
“Of all the officers assigned to RAVEN, it could be argued that Det. Maciel is the most versatile and possesses the most vast skillset.”
— DPD supervisor
“Initially she was regarded by peers as inexperienced and perhaps not up to speed on [redacted] or how to investigate particular criminal episodes, but she has quickly proven herself beyond capable and her work ethic and desire to learn is second to none.”
— DPD supervisor
“I am very familiar with Latino culture. The amount of time I’ve spent in Mexico, you would think that I would speak Spanish. I don’t. That’s because men always would translate for me. I’ve spent more time in Mexico over my lifetime than you would even believe. I am very familiar with Mexican culture. I am also very familiar with Mexican American culture, and I acknowledge and realize that if it is not already surpassed the majority that Latino culture is about ready to become the majority in Denver. Majority culture in Denver. So I am very clear about the cultural differences.”
“[T]his Hearing Officer finds no evidence of discrimination….”
— Carrie Clein, Denver Civil Service Commission Hearing Officer
Meanwhile…
*Though Denver Department of Public Safety Assistant Executive Director Mary Dulacki testified in November 2024 that at least some of the content of the Instagram account that features this officer riding a mechanical bull, in uniform, with his gun, violates DPD social media policy, it remains active as of February 16, 2025, @yourcommandpresence.