Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns

Weiser: To improve policing and retain officers, Colorado must invest in better training

During the last year, too many people left their jobs in law enforcement. The challenges of recruiting and retaining people in law enforcement deserve statewide attention. In 2020, according to data reported to the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, we experienced a 5% reduction in certified peace officers employed statewide. The data we […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News

Aurora to improve use-of-force policies, hire more diverse first responders, per agreement with attorney general

Aurora’s police and fire departments have agreed to improve their use-of-force policies and training, develop a new system to collect data about police interactions with members of the community, and work to hire officers and firefighters that better reflect the city’s diversity as part of a consent decree with state prosecutors unveiled Tuesday. “The city […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News

The Denver Police Department hopes its new therapy dog will break down barriers with the community

By Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press The Denver Police Department’s first therapy dog was originally trained to be a guide dog, but she turned out to be too friendly to focus on helping one person. Now the department is counting on the Black English Labrador Retriever’s outgoing nature to help it break down barriers and […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Morrison police chief resigns after just 3 months, cites limited resources and officer vacancies

Morrison police Chief Misty Siderfin is resigning after three months in the position. Her last day is Oct. 21. In her Oct. 7 letter of resignation, Siderfin said that she is “unable to continue within this role due to the limited resources, lack of financial stability and budgeting for the Police Department, demands for the […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News

Colorado Springs police officer kills shoplifting suspect who allegedly fired gun

COLORADO SPRINGS — A person suspected of shoplifting was shot and killed by a police officer after the man fired at the officer on Sunday, police said. According to Colorado Springs police, the suspect ran from a Walmart and refused commands to stop, eventually hiding behind a car. The officer, who had been providing security […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Aurora police consistently break the law through racially biased policing and excessive force, attorney general finds

The Aurora Police Department consistently violates state and federal law in a pattern of racially biased policing and excessive use of force, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office concluded after a year-long investigation into the agency. The department, which has been mired in a string of headline-grabbing controversies in recent years, also fails to record legally […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Westminster police union alleges “troubling state” at department as rift lingers after chief’s suspension

The city of Westminster’s suspension of police Chief Tim Carlson and another top official came as the police union backed a push for new bargaining powers to address “troubling” flaws in the department, a union representative said.  As complaints from the rank and file piled up and went ignored, it “became necessary” for Carlson and […]