Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Colorado Law Enforcement

Dillon Vakoff died protecting a family. His mother and his fellow officer won’t let Colorado forget why.
Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Dillon Vakoff died protecting a family. His mother and his fellow officer won’t let Colorado forget why.

By Gabe Evans and Lisa Vakoff | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In 2025, 115 police officers in the United States paid the ultimate price. Officers who survive their careers carry lifelong scars and health complications. The average American experiences their first heart attack at the average age of 65. Police officers get their first heart attack at age 46. Stress, lack of sleep, and violent criminals are just a few of the hazards that cops face every day.  To honor their service, in 1962, Congress and President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week during which it occurs as Police Week. It is a time to honor the brave men and women in law enforcement who put on the badge and willingly step into danger to protect our c...
Law enforcement cracks down on expired tags with 300 stops across Colorado
Fox31, Approved, State

Law enforcement cracks down on expired tags with 300 stops across Colorado

by Nate Belt | Fox 31 ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Now is a good time to make sure your vehicle registration is up to date. A coordinated effort this week from multiple law enforcement agencies saw hundreds of tickets issued and a handful of arrests while cracking down on expired tags. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office led that operation, joined by Colorado State Patrol, Westminster, Brighton and Thornton Police Departments. For 12 hours on Wednesday, officers in those jurisdictions were out in full force.Armed carjacking suspect shot by police, arrested after firing at officers during pursuit “We just flooded the area, the whole county,” Nicole Narverud with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office said. Looking for expired plates, some of which they found were multiple years old. N...
Legal Battle Erupts After Arrest of La Plata Jail Commissioner
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Legal Battle Erupts After Arrest of La Plata Jail Commissioner

By Maddie Rhodes | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — A federal class action lawsuit was filed against La Plata County, the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office and several others after the former La Plata County jail commissioner was arrested for allegedly watching inmate strip-searches for his sexual gratification. On Wednesday, the attorneys filed a lawsuit for several people who said they were victims of Edward Aber, the former La Plata jail commissioner, who faces charges on 117 counts of invasion of privacy for sexual gratification and one count of first-degree official misconduct. The lawsuit claims that Aber allegedly watched videos of at least 117 different female inmates during their mandatory strip-search for his own sexual gratification. Many victims were nude in these videos. ...
“We absolutely back the badge”: Mesa County defends deputy in federal suit
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

“We absolutely back the badge”: Mesa County defends deputy in federal suit

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County is taking Colorado’s top political figures to court. On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously voted to authorize a federal lawsuit against Governor Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser over what they called “politically motivated litigation” targeting local law enforcement under a controversial new state law. The board’s action followed a detailed legal presentation from County Attorney Todd Starr and remarks from all three commissioners defending Sheriff Todd Rowell and other named deputies. “This action is necessary to protect the constitutional rights of our employees at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office,” Starr said. “They’re  facing imminent threats of civil liability and penalties.” At issue is Senate Bill 276, which ...
Mesa County Sheriff Blasts Phil Weiser for Politicized Lawsuit Against Deputy
Local, Approved, denvergazette.com

Mesa County Sheriff Blasts Phil Weiser for Politicized Lawsuit Against Deputy

By Luige del Puerto and Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette The decision by the Colorado Attorney General's Office to sue a deputy is "demoralizing," Mesa County's sheriff said on Wednesday, arguing it sends the message that the state's top law enforcement office is selectively enforcing a state law barring cooperation with federal immigration agents — and for "maximum political effect." Sheriff Todd Rowell said Attorney General Phil Weiser knew of officers from another law enforcement agency who also shared information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and faced no consequences, while his deputy is the subject of a lawsuit from Weiser's office. "As it stands, the lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s Office sends a demoralizing message to law enforcemen...
Feds Take Aim at Colorado Sanctuary Laws that Protect Illegal Alien Criminals
State, Approved, denvergazette.com

Feds Take Aim at Colorado Sanctuary Laws that Protect Illegal Alien Criminals

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette The U.S. Department of Justice has filed an amended complaint against the state of Colorado and the city of Denver over sanctuary policies. The lawsuit was initially filed in May, but the amended complaint, filed last Friday, also targets the lawsuit filed last week by Attorney General Phil Weiser against a Mesa County deputy sheriff. The Weiser lawsuit alleges Deputy Alexander Zwinck shared information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement about a 19-year-old nursing student who was the subject of a traffic stop. The student was later picked up by ICE and detained for two weeks and released on bond. The Weiser lawsuit claims Zwinck broke Colorado laws that forbid Colorado state and local government employees from cooperating or s...
Colorado Sheriff Turns to Community to Revive Mounted Patrol
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Colorado Sheriff Turns to Community to Revive Mounted Patrol

By Jacob Factor | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Western Colorado has a rich history with horses, from cowboys and ranchers to mounted law enforcement. Today, a Western Slope sheriff’s office is hoping to revitalize a tradition going back more than 140 years. Though never officially disbanded, the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has had a mounted patrol of deputies from at least 1884 until budget constraints in the 1980s caused the posse to fade away. Now, the sheriff’s office wants to restart and revitalize the unit. “We live in western Colorado, our heritage is tied to the effective use of the horse for agriculture, transportation, recreation, ‘search and rescue’ and for many years past as a part of effective law enforcement,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post. “A wo...
Colorado Teen Rescued in Las Vegas, Authorities Suspect Human Trafficking
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Colorado Teen Rescued in Las Vegas, Authorities Suspect Human Trafficking

By Heather Willard | KDVR Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — A 14-year-old girl is safe and two men are facing charges after law enforcement found her Wednesday in Las Vegas, and police say a third suspect is under investigation. The girl was last seen by her family June 15 and was still in Las Vegas when police provided an update in the case Thursday. The Aurora Police Department said Christian Williamson, 26, and Cameron Scruggs, 25, face charges in the case. Williamson was arrested in Kremmling, while Scruggs was arrested in Las Vegas. Williamson is facing charges of internet sexual luring of a child and internet sexual exploitation of a child. Scruggs is facing one charge of kidnapping out of Colorado and statutory sexual seduction by a person 21 or older out of Nevada. Police are also ...
Denver Smash-and-Grabs Surge as Soft-on-Crime Policies Backfire
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Denver Smash-and-Grabs Surge as Soft-on-Crime Policies Backfire

By Alliyah Sims | KDVR Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — A Denver liquor store in the Sunnyside community has become the latest target of a bold smash-and-grab. The burglary happened in the early morning hours in the 2700 block of West 38th Street and it was all captured on surveillance video. Police are now hoping to catch the suspects, who appear to be teens, while neighboring businesses are sharing their concerns. The owner of the latest smash and grab did not want to speak on camera out of fear of retaliation, but nearby business owners told FOX31, they experienced a similar fate. For Ram, owner of Federal Cut Rate Liquors, running his small business at the intersection of 37th and Federal is his livelihood. “Been here almost 10 years,” he said. That’s why it was hard for him to ...
ICE’s gang member deportations linked to sharp drop in Denver, Aurora murder rates
Approved, Breitbart, Local, National

ICE’s gang member deportations linked to sharp drop in Denver, Aurora murder rates

By Warner Todd Huston | Breitbart New data shows that homicides in Denver and Aurora, Colorado, have experienced a significant drop in the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) efforts to take down the Tren de Aragua gang members that had been causing so much chaos in the area. But local Americans are still being killed by President Joe Biden’s migrants, including a 24-year-old woman killed in July of 2024 in Aurora by a 15-year-old reckless illegal-migrant driver. The local prosecutor just offered a sweetheart probation and community service deal to the youth migrant who is now applying for humanitarian asylum. The numbers have taken a significant downturn in the first quarter of 2025, according to data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, KSUA-TV reported. ...

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