Denver hosted IACP

On October 3-7, Denver, Colorado hosted the 116th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference and Exposition.  During the IACP, the CPLE hosted a Police Executive Leadership Form: Leadership in Equity Through Excellence in Research on October 6, 2009.  The forum covered research issues such as immigration, racial profiling/use of force, disparate arrests, and retention of female officers.  Denver is one of the 11 cities partnered with the CPLE and home of co-founder and executive director of research, Tracie Keesee.

Denver Leadership in Community Equity

DENVER POLICE CHIEF DENOUNCES RACIAL PROFILING AT FIVE POINTS

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

DENVER, CO JUNE 18, 2009:  City & County of Denver Police Chief Gerald Whitman will publicly address the practice of racial profiling and reaffirm DPD’s commitment to end the practice of police officers initiating contact with citizens based on their color or ethnicity.  Chief Whitman will be joined by community activists from the Fix Broken Policing Campaign at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 20, 2009, in front of Blackberries Coffee and Ice Cream Emporium at 27th and Welton in Denver’s Historic Five Points District during the annual Juneteenth Celebration.

“This announcement represents many months of discussions and negotiations between concerned community members and those police officials who understand the destructive impact of racial profiling,” explains community organizer Lisa Calderon, Denver INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence.  “It is also extremely significant that we make this statement during Juneteenth to celebrate African Americans emancipation from slavery, while reaffirming individual liberties and equitable treatment for all” continues Calderon.

Under the leadership of Chief Whitman and Division Chief Dr. Tracie Kessee, DPD is reviewing “routine” traffic stop statistics, officer training, and supervisory practices and making every effort to ensure that Denver Police Officers are acting in accordance with the departmental policies and procedures.

According to Chief Whitman, “the Denver Police Department and its officers are committed to building and maintaining a healthy and strong relationship with all of our community partners. Denver police officers will continue to work towards keeping all of our communities safe.”

Representatives of community organizations from throughout the Denver Metropolitan area, including Servicios De La Raza, Colorado Progressive Coalition, and the Colorado Black Round Table, will be in attendance in peaceful support of Chief Whitman’s address. Community activists will continue to work with the Denver Police Department to improve police and community relationships.