Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Police Staffing

Denver Council Presses Public Safety Leaders Over 911 Response and Surveillance Spending
The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Denver Council Presses Public Safety Leaders Over 911 Response and Surveillance Spending

By Nico Brambila | The Denver Gazette Longer 911 response times, police surveillance technology and the integrity of Denver’s crime lab drew scrutiny from the Denver City Council on Wednesday, as public safety officials defended their operations and outlined challenges facing their departments. Officials attributed longer response times in part to a sharp increase in employee leave, saying average leave hours reached 306 in 2025, compared with 170 previously. The issue, officials said, isn’t just staffing. “We can’t hire ourselves out of the ability to answer more quickly,” said Andrew Dameron, director of Denver 911. Councilmembers complained to Public Safety officials, saying they haven’t experienced the improved response times the d...
Denver Seeks $11 Million Boost To Cover Police Overtime And Staffing Strains
The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Denver Seeks $11 Million Boost To Cover Police Overtime And Staffing Strains

By Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette The Denver Police Department is short $11 million and is asking the city to pick up the tab for unplanned and unfunded overtime tied to numerous protests and officer-involved shootings this year. Part of the request would also cover shortfalls in DPD separation payouts. The money, if approved by the City Council, would come from a supplemental general fund appropriation from the city’s contingency fund. Members of the council’s Governance and Intergovernmental Relations Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday to advance the request, and others to claw back $13.9 million from the current general fund contingency, authorizing it as a supplemental appropriation for various general fund agencies and special revenue funds. “This is something...
‘I’ve talked to fire chiefs—they’re scared’: Pueblo confronts growing homeless concerns
Approved, Fox21, Local

‘I’ve talked to fire chiefs—they’re scared’: Pueblo confronts growing homeless concerns

By Hunter Phipps | Fox21 (PUEBLO, Colo.) — For people who live in the Bessemer neighborhood in Pueblo, they say things seem to be getting worse as the days go by. It’s why they decided to take their concerns to Pueblo City Council Members and speak out during the council’s work session on Monday evening. “It’s all over town from each and everybody’s district, we need our city back,” said Betty Finley, a resident who lives in the Bessemer neighborhood. One neighbor speaking out feels like more and more problems like drug use and trash are showing up, and feels helpless when trying to find anyone to help. “Right next door to us is another drug house, and it’s a revolving door for the homeless in and out, there’s people living in that backyard,” another neighbor who spoke out to c...