Christopher N. Osher (Denver Post) - Seven petition circulators who worked for a company hired by Denver sheriff's deputies in their bid to ask voters to broaden their arrest powers used "questionable" practices, perhaps forging thousands of signatures, elections officials said Thursday.

The allegedly bogus signatures include one that purports to be from Denver City Councilman Michael Hancock, a public opponent of the petition initiative who has told authorities he never signed the petition.

"I probably felt like anyone else when someone has stolen their identity or forged their signature," Hancock said. "It's an empty feeling. It's a very disappointing feeling."

Denver Clerk and Recorder Stephanie O'Malley said she told District Attorney Mitch Morrissey she will forward the questionable signatures to his office for review and possible prosecution.

She said several names of employees in her office also showed up on the petitions, but they have told her they did not actually sign them.

Forging petition signatures is a Class 2 misdemeanor, with a maximum punishment of three months of incarceration and a $250 fine.

The deputies hired Washington-based FieldWorks to handle the petition gathering in the push for a ballot initiative that would change city charter to give the deputies enhanced arrest powers out on the streets.

Hancock and other public officials had warned that giving the deputies enhanced arrest powers outside their work stations could end up costing the city more in collective bargaining, training and liability expenses.

O'Malley and other election officials said they could not recall another instance when they had forwarded allegations of petition fraud to prosecutors for review.

"It is unlawful to affix a signature on a petition unless the person signing is the registered voter identified," O'Malley said.

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