Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Law Enforcement

GOP Lawmakers Push for Emergency Session on Colorado Crime Wave
kdvr.com, Approved, State

GOP Lawmakers Push for Emergency Session on Colorado Crime Wave

By Jacob Factor | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — Several Republican members of Colorado’s congressional delegation are renewing calls for Colorado state lawmakers to address crime and criminal competency laws through a special legislative session. Reps. Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert and Jeff Crank on Tuesday issued a joint letter demanding Colorado Gov. Jared Polis work with state legislators to “repeal soft-on-crime laws fueling Colorado’s rising crime.” The representatives pointed to several instances in which they say Colorado’s laws Polis himself signed “undermine law enforcement’s ability to keep communities safe.” The lawmakers’ call also echoes previous calls ahead of August’s special legislative session to address crime laws. That special session did not cover crime or crimina...
Trump to Memphis: National Guard coming to restore safety
Fox News, Approved, National

Trump to Memphis: National Guard coming to restore safety

By Rachel Wolf | Fox News Trump chooses Memphis, Tennessee, for next National Guard deployment President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would be deploying the National Guard to Memphis, Tenn., next as he continues his anti-crime initiative.  The president made the announcement during an appearance on "Fox & Friends," adding that the deployment would not be limited to the National Guard and could include the Army if needed. "Memphis is deeply troubled," Trump said. "We're gonna fix that just like we did Washington." Trump admitted that he would have "preferred going to Chicago." The Trump administration has recently clashed with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson over possible National Guard deployment to the Win...
Extra $9 million in settlement funds aims to fight opioid crisis locally
gazette.com, Approved, Local

Extra $9 million in settlement funds aims to fight opioid crisis locally

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette With the processing of new settlements, El Paso and Teller counties are expected to receive about $75 million to combat opioid addiction and deaths over the next 18 years — an increase to estimates when the counties created a joint council to disburse funds.  Last year, the Region 16 Opioid Abatement Council figures had the overall total closer to $66 million awarded by 2038. The funding boost is meant to sustain community programs addressing different facets of the opioid epidemic.  "The vast majority has either not been allocated or not been received," said Erik Stone, Teller County commissioner and council vice chair.  The estimate reflects updates in the nationwide legal process to hold major drug manufacturers financ...
Guilty plea exposes scale of child exploitation by Colorado predator
Fox31, Approved, National

Guilty plea exposes scale of child exploitation by Colorado predator

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — A 31-year-old man from Colorado pleaded guilty this month in Indiana to dozens of counts related to sextortion of at least 68 children through social media and sex trafficking of at least five of those children. Ryan Austin Lauless, 31, of Colorado, pleaded guilty on Sept. 4 to 21 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of noticing and advertising child sexual abuse material and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. Prosecutors say that Lauless used social media apps between late 2019 and May 19, 2023, to coerce, sexually exploit and threaten at least 68 minor victims into producing thousands of sexua...
FBI: Rifle and writings discovered after fatal attack on Charlie Kirk
FOX 13 Salt Lake City, Approved, National

FBI: Rifle and writings discovered after fatal attack on Charlie Kirk

By Jeff Tavss | FOX 13 Salt Lake City OREM, Utah — The weapon used in the deadly shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was discovered overnight, with the FBI adding that they currently have images of the suspect. During a briefing Thursday, FBI officials said the weapon, a high-powered bolt action rifle, was found in a wooded area, although the exact location was not released. Footprints were also discovered in the wooded area, which are currently being analyzed. CNN reports that phrases "related to cultural issues" were found written on the rifle and ammunition that were discovered in the woods. Among the markings, the outlet said, were initials that law enforcement is using in hopes of matching with a suspect. Authorities said they have viewed ima...
Shooting at Evergreen High School leaves 3 critically wounded
CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Shooting at Evergreen High School leaves 3 critically wounded

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado At least two students were wounded Wednesday in a shooting at a high school in the Denver metro area. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the shooting took place just after noon at Evergreen High School. The school is located at 29300 Buffalo Park Rd. in Evergreen, which is 28 miles southwest of Denver. JeffCo emergency communications said there are reports of "an active assailant in the area of Evergreen High School." The sheriff's office said at least two students have been shot. St. Anthony's Hospital said there are three patients there in critical condition. It's still an active scene, and authorities asked those with students at the school not to go directly to the school at this time. A teacher told CBS Colorado that th...
Public safety or politics? Mesa County sues Polis over sanctuary crackdown
The Daily Caller, Approved, State

Public safety or politics? Mesa County sues Polis over sanctuary crackdown

By Jason Hopkins | Daily Caller One of Colorado’s biggest counties is taking on the state’s “unconstitutional” sanctuary law after it was used to crack down on a sheriff’s deputy who helped federal immigration authorities. The Board of Mesa County Commissioners is moving forward with its lawsuit against a Democrat-led sanctuary law that prohibits local law enforcement in Colorado from sharing personal information about a foreign national with federal immigration authorities, the Daily Caller News Foundation confirmed. The lawsuit was filed after state officials sued a Mesa County sheriff’s deputy for helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and effectively forced him out of the job. “The Constitution makes clear that immigration is a federal responsibility, not something ...
Day of Defense on Sept. 20 equips families to fight exploitation
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

Day of Defense on Sept. 20 equips families to fight exploitation

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice To Corrigan, the Sept. 20 Day of Defense is more than an event. It’s part of a larger calling to rally Colorado around protecting children and restoring those who’ve been harmed. Colorado ranks tenth in the nation for human trafficking, despite being only 21st in population. That reality is what Abby Corrigan, CEO of the Colorado Faith Alliance, says drives her organization’s work. She believes the fight begins with a clear truth. “Pornography is the root issue of sex trafficking. America is the number one buyer of sex in the world… they are after our children and it all leads to trafficking in some form or another,” Corrigan said. Research supports Corrigan’s concern. One in three kids see hardcore porn by age 12 — most of them by acciden...
Coroner report: Fentanyl-linked deaths surge 41% in Boulder County first half of 2025
Longmont Leader, Approved, Local

Coroner report: Fentanyl-linked deaths surge 41% in Boulder County first half of 2025

By Steven Middendorp | Longmont Leader Last week, the Office of the Boulder County Coroner released its 2025 biannual drug report for the first half of the year, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. Last week, the Office of the Boulder County Coroner released its 2025 biannual drug report for the first half of the year, from January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025. The coroner’s office certified 171 deaths of the 1,206 deaths that occurred in Boulder County during this time range. Toxicology testing was conducted on 92 of these individuals and 73 were found to have a positive test for at least one drug with the majority having a positive test for multiple drugs. 33 of these deaths were caused by at least one drug according to the coroner’s report, which is 35.8 percent of the deceased ind...
Police could see pay hikes as Denver cuts other city jobs
Fox31, Approved, Local

Police could see pay hikes as Denver cuts other city jobs

By Jared Dean | Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — About $200 million: That is how much money the city of Denver needed to make up for in the 2026 budget before widespread layoffs last month. “It already feels like the stuff that’s important isn’t getting funded. So, that makes me wonder, yeah, what stuff is getting shafted,” Denver resident Christian Greene said. An announcement last month came down from the mayor’s office that 928 would be eliminated. Of those, 171 came from layoffs, and the others were vacant positions. The city made about $100 million in cuts to its budget for next year. But a tentative deal between the city and leaders and the Denver Police Protective Association to increase police pay for the next three years is one step closer to being finalized. The cit...