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Denver Public Works employees on leave after possible involvement in youth baseball game brawl

Two employees have been placed on investigatory leave, according to city of Denver.

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Two Denver Public Works employees may have been involved in the fistfight that broke out among adults during a youth baseball game last weekend, according to Diane Vertovec, communications director for the city of Denver human resources department. 

Both employees have been placed on investigatory leave.

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Vertovec said the city is not able to comment on open investigations. 

Denver employee policy states, "violence committed by employees of the City and County of Denver, whether on-duty or off-duty, reflects poorly on the City and County of Denver and is strictly prohibited." Disciplinary action may result in dismissal, the policy states. 

Five people were cited with disorderly conduct and at least one person was seriously injured after the fight at Westgate Elementary School in Lakewood.

The 13-year-old umpire of the game, Josh Cordova, said he gave each side a warning for using bad language. He said someone was upset the umpire didn't kick the parents out of the game altogether, which started the argument that led to the brawl.

"[The umpire] feels guilty he could not gain control of the situation and guilty that a ... coach is now in trouble for protecting him,"  a family member said in a text message to 9NEWS.

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