DENVER — An independent investigation has been launched into a March incident at the Golden Fire Department, where a Black doll was found hanging by the neck in a fire station stairwell, city officials announced Tuesday.

In a statement read before Golden City Council on Tuesday night, Mayor Laura Weinberg described the incident as a “deeply disturbing and racist act.”

A novelty doll called “Snoop on the Stoop” — a parody of the “Elf on the Shelf” doll often seen around Christmas — had been moved around the fire station during the holidays, Weinberg said when reading the statement. In March, that doll was found hanging by its neck from a rope in a fire station stairwell, she said.

“The doll should never have been brought into any city facility, and the display evoked a horrific history of racial terror and violence,” Weinberg said. “The doll was removed immediately upon discovery.”

Golden officials launched an internal investigation and took unspecified disciplinary action after the incident, according to the statement. Later, when city employees outside the fire department learned of the incident and raised concerns, an independent investigation was launched.

As of Wednesday, the employee — who has not been publicly identified — had been terminated and was “no longer employed by the City of Golden in any capacity,” city spokesperson Meredith Ritchie confirmed.

“I applaud them for taking further action, but it shouldn’t have only happened when other employees found out,” said Omar Montgomery, president of the NAACP’s Rocky Mountain State Conference. “It should have happened at the forefront.”

Montgomery also serves as the director of equity, culture and community engagement for the Cherry Creek School District.

This is an opportunity for city leadership to examine the work environment and determine whether this is an isolated incident, or whether employees feel there is a culture of racism and discrimination, Montgomery said.

“Do people feel safe?” he asked. “Do people feel like this is ongoing?”

It’s also an opportunity for Golden officials to revisit their policies and their commitment to diversity and inclusion, Montgomery said. “You have a commitment to everyone,” he said of the city.

“I also want to sincerely apologize to our staff for the impact this situation has and will continue to have on our staff,” Golden City Manager Scott Vargo wrote to city employees in an email on Friday, a copy of which was sent anonymously to The Denver Post. “No one should be made to feel anything less than valued, respected, and supported as a member of our team, and this incident and response has left staff questioning mine and the City’s commitment to those values.”

Vargo’s email stated that “a shocked and upset employee saw the doll and it was ordered to be taken down immediately.” The incident was “handled with the seriousness warranted by the egregious nature of the conduct,” he said.

An internal investigation led to “significant disciplinary action,” Vargo wrote in the email. He did not specify the action that was taken.

“The act of tying (the doll) to a rope was shocking and intolerable behavior,” Vargo wrote. “Steps have been taken to make that clear within the department and to develop and embrace a work environment that is welcoming, respectful, and safe for everyone, and one in which conduct like this does not go unchecked at any level of the organization.”

During the Tuesday night meeting, the Golden City Council spoke out against the incident.

“I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the racist incident, and it is racist, that occurred and the pain it has caused members of our community and our staff,” Councilmember Emily Kurzinski said. “Racism has no place in the city of Golden. … While we do not yet have all the answers, I want everyone to know that your voices matter and you are being heard, and we are committed to doing better.”

The incident harmed both employees’ and the community’s trust in the city, Councilmember Patty Evans said.

“Meaningful accountability is not about punishment alone, but is about acknowledging the seriousness of what occurred, demonstrating transparency, rebuilding trust and ensuring that no employee ever has reason to question whether racism will be treated with the urgency and seriousness it deserves,” Evans said, reading from an email sent to her by an affected employee.

“We have a lot of work to do to repair that trust,” she said.

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