DENVER — Another Denver city agency is blasting the Denver Sheriff’s Department, accusing it of trying to obstruct a department review.

The Denver City Auditor says the Sheriff’s Department refuses to hand over documents about inmate complaints.

A letter from Auditor Dennis Gallagher to Mayor Michael Hancock says, ” I am very troubled that your Sheriff’s Department is refusing to provide requested information that we need to conduct our audit.”

It goes on, “Frankly we have encountered recalcitrance, foot-dragging and what I can only describe as obstructionist behavior on the part of some members of the Sheriff’s Department as we have tried to conduct our audit. This kind of behavior and the refusal to provide needed information to my auditors makes me wonder what some people want to hide.”

Read the rest of the letter here.

The city attorney responded by saying he needs more time to make a legal determination as to which documents can be disclosed.

Scott Martinez said in a statement: “We take the Auditor’s function very seriously and share his office’s commitment to transparency and responsible government. That’s why we have dedicated considerable time and energy to gathering the large amount of information the Auditor’s Office has requested. However, there are often legitimate legal reasons that prevent records from being provided to the Auditor’s Office. As with any disagreement between the Auditor’s Office and a city department, my office will be reviewing these specific documents and making a legal determination on whether they can and must be disclosed.”

This is one of several reviews ordered after a series of multimillion-dollar excessive force lawsuits.