VIDEO: Union Demands Denver Chief Resign After Ordering Officers to Allow Fallen Officer Memorial to be Defaced During Protest

A defaced memorial to fallen Denver, Colo., police officers has led to major backlash that includes the president of the police union, the police chief and a community group said to be responsible for the vandalism.

On Saturday more than 100 people marched down Colfax Avenue from Lincoln Park to the Denver Police Department headquarters located at 1331 Cherokee Street. Some marched in support of Jessie Hernandez, a 17-year-old who was killed when she was shot by police during a criminal incident in January.

During the protest a memorial dedicated to fallen police officers was vandalized with red paint.

The defacement has led to a controversy involving police administrators and the head of the police union. The union is calling for Denver Police Chief Robert White to resign.

Denver firefighters were later seen cleaning the paint off of the memorial, but Denver Police Union President Nick Rogers said the damage had been done.

Rogers spoke exclusively to CBS4’s Lauren DiSpirito following the incident. He said officers monitoring the protest were told by their superiors to not to interfere and to let the vandalism happen. Rogers said he and officers are so upset about that decision that he’s calling for White’s resignation.

Police arrested two men for criminal mischief in relation to the vandalism. They’ve been identified as Matthew Goldberg, 23, and Robert Guerrero, 25. They’ve been charged with criminal mischief-vandalism.