Accountable Public Safety · Police Misconduct
The police investigating the police is like you auditing your own taxes.
– It doesn't work.
I will
Require that police misconduct is investigated by a citizen-ran body.
Misconduct is currently handled by the officer's supervisor in the form of “mandatory training.”
Read the policy →
Action 01 · Police Misconduct
Require that police misconduct is investigated by a citizen-ran body.
The problem
Last year, Denver Police quietly switched their process for handling misconduct from formal suspensions and reprimands to informal classroom trainings. The result is removing roughly 80% of misconduct cases from independent oversight, cases like minor use-of-force violations and body-cam failures.
This rolled back measures that the community fought for years to put in place, ignoring a city ordinance already in place to prevent such backroom dealing. But who will enforce city law upon law enforcement? Denver Police needs to be held accountable by outside third-parties.
What Council can do
Establish a city ordinance mandating outside oversight of misconduct for Denver Police.
OrdinanceAccountable Public Safety · End Non-Violent Jailing
Most people end up in jail for non-violent offenses.
I will
Change the default punishments for non-violent offenses.
Non-violent jailing exists, today, as a pipeline for feeding undesirables to for-profit prisons for cheap labor and extortion.
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Action 02 · End Non-Violent Jailing
Change the default punishments for non-violent offenses.
The problem
Policing has deep roots in the slave catchers of the antebellum South. Private prisons, today, are an extension of that system, incarcerating “undesirables” like minorities and the unhoused for cheap labor and extortion.
Meanwhile, the crimes that get them there are simple drug charges, public disorderliness, property damage, or mental health episodes. Nothing that we need to remove them from society for.
What Council can do
Pass an ordinance to change the default sentencing for many non-violent offenses to things like citations, rehabilitation, probation, house arrest, and work release. The outcomes will be better, and Denver's budget can enjoy a smaller line item for manning our jails.
OrdinanceAccountable Public Safety · STAR Funding
4.3xis how much more expensive it is for Denver Police to respond to a 9-1-1 call vs. STAR.
I will
Increase STAR's funding with money from Denver Police's patrol budget.
With STAR handling more and more 9-1-1 calls, less budget is needed for traditional sworn officer responses.
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Action 03 · STAR Funding
Increase STAR's funding with money from Denver Police's patrol budget.
The problem
We spend $145 million per year on police patrols, in Denver, but only $6 million on the STAR program, despite the STAR program saving the city money for every call it takes. STAR also reduces the criminalization of poverty, focusing instead on providing services for those in need.
What Council can do
Take $6 million from Denver's patrol budget (a drop in the bucket) and move it to the STAR program, doubling its funding and capacity.
First budget