Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Public safety

Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire
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Out on bond, out of control: Decades of Colorado’s soft-on-crime policies under fire

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A series of violent incidents in Denver during April 2025 has intensified scrutiny of Colorado’s criminal justice reforms, with critics contending that lenient policies on bail and sentencing have compromised public safety.  Five recent cases, documented through court records, booking reports and social media posts from the advocacy account @dobetterdnvr, reveal a troubling trend: offenders with extensive criminal histories, released on low or no-cost bonds or parole, allegedly committed murders, assaults and attempted murders – leaving multiple victims. https://twitter.com/dobetterdnvr/status/1919768043120628140 Yet, this issue is not new – historical cases stretching back decades suggest a persistent pattern of reci...
ICE’s gang member deportations linked to sharp drop in Denver, Aurora murder rates
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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. ...
One dead, two injured in Aurora shopping center parking lot shooting
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One dead, two injured in Aurora shopping center parking lot shooting

By Sydney Isenberg | Denver7 AURORA, Colo. — One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a shooting in the parking lot of an Aurora shopping center Wednesday evening. The Aurora Police Department said its officers responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of 1155 South Havana Street around 8:36 p.m. Nearby businesses include a King Soopers, a liquor store and a Baskin-Robbins. Officers arrived and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER7 NEWS
Homeless camp tapping I-25 power cleared by Colorado Springs deputies—site continues to reappear
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Homeless camp tapping I-25 power cleared by Colorado Springs deputies—site continues to reappear

By Ashley Eberhardt | Fox31 COLORADO SPRINGS (KXRM) — On Tuesday, May 13, multiple law enforcement agencies cleared out a homeless encampment beneath Intestate 25 near Woodmen Road, where televisions, lighting and stereo equipment were found to be powered by illegally tapping into I-25’s light poles. According to a press release sent by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, its agency teamed up with the Colorado Springs Police Department and the Colorado Department of Transportation to help initiate a restoration project beneath I-25 just north of the Woodmen Road exit. EPSO said this location, where Pine Creek flows under the interstate, has been a frequent site for homeless encampments. “This encampment has been a persistent concern for the surrounding community, affecting res...
Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up
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Polis open to signing bill restricting local ICE cooperation as Colorado sanctuary debate heats up

By Luige Del Puerto | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis said that while he had "major problems" with an earlier proposal that sought to inoculate immigrants from federal policies, the bill now includes "workable language," thereby signaling his intent to sign it. The governor reiterated he is still reviewing the proposal, which underwent several changes before its final passage during the 2025 legislative session. At its core, Senate Bill 276 reemphasized existing state law that precludes local law enforcers from detaining an individual based on an "immigration detainer." An immigration "detainer" is a notice issued to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies informing the latter that agents intend to assume custody of an individual no longer subject to the former's dete...
After bullets fly, Denver LoDo residents demand crackdown on downtown crime hub
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After bullets fly, Denver LoDo residents demand crackdown on downtown crime hub

By Alliyah Sims | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Residents living near 19th and Market Street in the lower downtown area say they have had enough with the crime happening in their community. They say in the past six weeks alone, there have been back-to-back shootings and they fear leaving their own homes. The fear stems from a public parking lot located right across the street, where they say illegal activity happens. Just last week, police investigated a shooting in the area that injured four people. No word on any arrests, but the video shows a person being lifted off a sidewalk as people took cover. In the last six months, according to Denver Police crime data, there have been at least five aggravated assaults, with at least two shootings ending with windows being shot thro...
Teen in U.S. illegally gets probation after killing Colorado woman at 90 mph
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Teen in U.S. illegally gets probation after killing Colorado woman at 90 mph

By Shaun Boyd | CBS News The Arapahoe District Attorney's Office is defending its decision to give probation and community service to a teenager who was driving illegally and, in the country illegally, when he killed a woman.    The accident happened last July in Aurora. The victim, Kaitlyn Weaver, was headed home from work when a Jeep, barreling through a residential neighborhood, slammed into her car. The speed limit in the area was 45 mph. Investigators say the driver was doing more than 90 mph. "She didn't even see him coming," her dad, John Weaver, said. "That's how fast he was going. She was effectively killed instantly." He says he and his wife Michelle removed their daughter from life support 2 days later, "How do you fathom that loss?"   Weaver says h...
Denver ICE ride-along: Colorado jail limits force agents into streets as officer assaults surge 400%
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Denver ICE ride-along: Colorado jail limits force agents into streets as officer assaults surge 400%

By Sarah Ferguson | KXRM (COLORADO SPRINGS) — Recently, NewsNation affiliate KXRM went on a ride-along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Denver, as its officers conducted targeted enforcement actions on at-large fugitives from ICE in Colorado Springs. From attending the early morning briefing, to witnessing ICE officers making arrests of “public safety threats,” to touring the Florence Sub-Office for processing, KXRM was able to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into an arrest made by ICE officers and the steps taken thereafter.  Morning briefing: Day of ride-along Just before 5 a.m. on the day of KXRM’s ride-along with ICE Denver, our team met with officers at an undisclosed location where the morning briefing ensued. During the briefing, ICE officers...
Denver kills camera contract over ICE fears, leaving crime-fighting tools off the table
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Denver kills camera contract over ICE fears, leaving crime-fighting tools off the table

By Heather Willard | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — On May 5, the Denver City Council failed to approve a contract extension with Flock, a tech surveillance company that has been contracted to provide over 100 license plate readers around the county. The city first contracted with Flock in March 2023, with the original agreement lasting through the end of this February. The amendment would have extended the contract by another two years for $666,000. The original contract cost the city $339,450, but the cost wasn’t the main reason why council members voted no. Instead, the members cited privacy concerns, questioning who has access to the data as Denver continues to remain in the crosshairs of the Trump Administration for so-called “sanctuary laws.” Members worried that ...