What does it take to reopen an investigation into a police-involved death of a young Black man after the district attorney refuses to press criminal charges and the officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing?

On Thursday, nearly a year after the death of Elijah McClain who died in police custody, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed a special prosecutor to "determine whether the facts justify criminal charges against members of law enforcement" involved in the arrest.

Members of the public pressed local officials for his removal after learning Daigle was previously a police officer in Connecticut and has subsequently defended law enforcement agencies in other legal cases.

The officers involved in the fatal altercation — Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema — were placed on administrative leave for about three months following McClain's death.

Mari Newman, a lawyer for McClain's family, told NBC News that the family is dismayed it has taken a national outcry to prompt officials to reinvestigate.