United States Congressman Jason Crow is the co-sponsor of a bill that would prevent law enforcement officers from needing to respond to calls involving mental health crises. The bill, which was passed by the House, would provide local governments with grants to form mental health units, instead of police, to respond to certain 911 calls.
Panelists include Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, State Representatives Jennifer Bacon and Steven Woodrow, Denver Youth Violence Prevention Program Manager Felicia Rodriguez, Together Colorado’s Vickie Wilhite, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, and District 5 Lt. Kevin Hines. To submit a question to the panelists, go to the ‘Ask Front Porch” tab at the top of the page.
Over the past three years, the rates of car crimes committed in Denver have skyrocketed and include vandalism, catalytic converter removal, gasoline siphoning, and vehicle theft. Although these problems are impacting the entire city, car crimes have been especially prevalent in Northeast Denver neighborhoods.
Denver residents who no longer want guns in their homes previously had few options to discard their weapons.
Local crime data for 2022 offers a view of the patterns occurring in our neighborhoods, and DPD Chief Paul Pazen explains how the shortage is impacting these trends.
As the impacts of climate change are increasing, a recent Supreme Court ruling means the EPA can no longer require power plants to reduce carbon emissions. While mass shootings and gun violence are on the rise, the Bruen ruling makes it more difficult for states and municipalities to implement local gun control policies. And for the first time in U.S. history, the Supreme Court took away an existing right.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision in July reversed Roe v. Wade after 50 years of legal abortions nationwide, Colorado remains among the 24 states with laws protecting reproductive rights.
How might the recent Supreme Court Ruling in the Bruen case, which struck down a New York gun control law and limited the ability for states or cities to prohibit firearms in public, impact Denver?
“Colorado is on the front lines of our climate reality with wildfires, drought, extreme weather and all of the health and economic impacts that come with that. So, when the Supreme Court limits our tools in addressing those challenges, Coloradans are going to feel it.”
The recent Uvalde shooting was a tragic reminder that we have come to expect that police now know how best to respond to a school shooter and will act based on the latest and best conclusions of law enforcement and education professionals. The delay in Uvalde that cost additional lives led us to ask spokespersons from Denver Police Department (DPD) and Denver Public Schools (DPS) about their readiness for such an event.
