1. DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT
INTER-DEPARTMENT
CORRESPONDENCE
TO: Chief of Police, Gerald Whitman
THRU: Chain of Command
FROM: Officer Layla DeStaffany, 04013
DATE: 06-14-11
SUBJECT: Request for Special Assignment Time
Chief Whitman,
The purpose of this letter is to request 3 ten hour days of special assignment time to travel
to Washington DC to present at the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) Annual
Conference. The workshop that I have been asked to speak at is entitled “Collaborating
with Law Enforcement- Promising Strategies for Working with the Police.” I will be
traveling on July 13th, presenting on July 14th, and traveling back to Denver on July 15th.
Amber Callender, Executive Director for Denver’s Road Home, will also be attending the
conference and presenting on the same topic.
Since the DPD Homeless Outreach Unit started in 2007, my partner and I have been
consulted by numerous departments who want to know what we do in the fight against
homelessness. Many of these departments have implemented our best practices and some
have even modeled similar units after us. Speaking at this conference will give me an
opportunity to share what has and hasn’t worked for us. This is an opportunity, with a
national audience, to highlight the strides the DPD has made as partners with our
community to deal with homeless issues.
The NAEH will pay for my travel and lodging. Some meals are provided at the conference
so I am not asking for any money from the Department for this trip. I am planning on
wearing a suit for the presentation unless you would rather have me in uniform. Thank you
for your consideration in this matter.
Respectfully,
Officer Layla DeStaffany
Commander Lopez

2. Division Chief Quinones
Deputy Chief Battista
Chief Whitman