Denver Chief Orders Review of Officer Alcohol Abuse

Amid a rash of officer arrests, Denver Police Chief Robert White has ordered a review of how his department handles reports of alcohol abuse among its nearly 1,400 officers.

White spoke Thursday about the seven officers accused of crimes this year, saying six of them involved alcohol and calling the incidents "frustrating." By comparison, there were only four officer arrests in 2013.

"I'm concerned for the officers," White told the Denver Post . "I'm concerned for their wellness. I'm concerned for our agency. We've worked extremely hard.

White expects to present his revamped substance-abuse policy by the end of July. Change may not come easy as White battles a culture where officers may be reluctant to jeopardize their careers — or those of their peers — by reporting alcohol abuse.