As a follow up to the Confidential’s July 28th story Arrests Rising In Denver, new information from the Denver Police Department (DPD) revels the number of police complaints in the Westwood neighborhood since September 2005.
In February, Westwood was the location for a city pilot program launched with the purpose of implementing a new policing strategy. During the six month program, local police officers participated in new tactics recommended by hired crime consultants-consultants paid for by the Denver Police Foundation.According to information from the city’s Civil Liability Bureau, there have been four police complaints in Westwood since September of last year. One was prior to the pilot program, and three were after, although none of those were related to the “primary officers” involved in the program.
Current statistics show that Westwood has had a 49.4% increase in arrests, when compared to the rate from January-June of 2005. In the area, 76% of the population is Latino and almost 25% lives in poverty
This report is contrary to information reported in an April Rocky Mountain News article which stated that no complaints had been filed in Westwood.
