Last month, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser released a report detailing the findings of an investigation of the Aurora Police Department by the Colorado Department of Law. The investigation followed a number of abuse-of-force incidents over the past few years...
Police Brutality
Are police misconduct and brutality rates excessive in Colorado?
The question is simple enough. Does the state of Colorado suffer from excessive police brutality or misconduct? As is so with most controversial topics, it depends upon who you ask. Members of state law enforcement agencies might say excessive use of force is not an...
Colorado charges officers and paramedics who overdosed a man
Colorado charges officers and paramedics who overdosed a man Police misconduct has historically gone unaddressed in many parts of the country. Only with the rise of mobile phones with excellent built-in cameras and the advent of police body cameras has the...
Violent incident involving Aurora police officer reveals deeper problems
The bodycam footage is horrifying: A white police officer pistol-whips an unarmed Black man until the man’s head is bloody while another officer stands by, doing nothing to intervene. At one point, the suspect, who was merely accused of trespassing, pleads with the...
Former Colorado officers face criminal charges, lawsuit over violent arrest
Last year, examples of police abuses of power were front and center in the media. In one case here in Colorado, recently released videos show the arrest of a 73-year-old woman with dementia. Bodycam video shows officers forcibly pushing her to the ground and...
While Congress debates qualified immunity for law enforcement officers, Colorado takes action
An important goal among members of the U.S. Congress is developing comprehensive police reform legislation. However, a major sticking point involves qualified immunity. Those who advocate for sweeping police forms contend that they aren’t possible unless qualified...
What is empty-hand control during a police encounter?
There's a saying that when you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. People tend to use the tools they have accessible to resolve the issues that they face. Both the training and daily work experience of police officers can influence the decisions that they...
Just how common is police brutality?
If the police pull you over or stop you on the street, how worried should you be? Are you about to become a victim of a serious violent crime at the hands of those who are supposed to protect you from that type of crime? Sometimes, the news makes it seem like police...
Would more women in law enforcement reduce unnecessary force?
Multiple cases of police killing unarmed people stream across our televisions and computers these days – thanks to body cameras worn by officers and videos taken by bystanders. Many pundits, people who study law enforcement and ordinary citizens are saying that these...
Police brutality is a serious topic after the Denver protests
During the Denver protests, many people were injured. One of those people was a man who has now filed a lawsuit claiming excessive force was used against himself and others. The man’s eye had to be surgically removed after he was struck by a projectile that was shot...