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LATEST LETTERS

“True” crime rates in Denver

Wednesday, October 3 at 10:59 AM

Greg Isabel of Denver writes:

A BIG thank you to Shepard Nevel for speaking about the “true” crime rate in Denver (re: Speakout column 09/20/07, “What dip in crime rate means"). Let me explain please.
I had the recent displeasure of having my life threatened in front of my own home in North Park Hill by two strangers in the middle of the night so I called 911. Almost fifty(50) minutes later the police showed up apologizing and explaining that they were on other calls. Of course by then the suspects had disappeared.
This response time to a 911 call did not sit well with me or some of my neighbors. We were beginning to wonder if our city’s priorities were misplaced for having new beautiful architectural marvels of police headquarter buildings but not enough money for police to patrol the streets!
I called our city council representative, I received no response. I then e-mailed the Mayor’s office and the entire city council. I did not get a response from the Mayor’s office but did hear back from our councilman who directed me to contact the Commander of our local police station so that I could do all the “leg work” on this serious 911 response time issue.
Our block is now going to participate in a neighborhood crime watch program which is good but I was told multiple times by the police that their staffing is adequate and multiple times I was referred to the latest “statistics” recently published that shows Denver’s crime rate dropping over 2006 figures.
As we have noticed a definite spike in property crimes in our neighborhood since January, these crimes on our block did not make any sense until I read the article and particularly the caption written by Shepard Nevel: “Since 1994, while Denver’s population has increased by 21 percent...the number of (police) officers has increased by only 5 percent".
Mr. Nevels’ writing of our city’s low police force staffing and high crime rate compared to other cities is refreshingly candid! Thank you for making this serious issue finally clear. It is still though alarmingly frightening that our city leaders are not doing anything about police staffing but putting a “spin” on certain numbers nor do they seem to really care by not responding to my e-mails or calls.
Any plans for running for political office Mr. Nevel? You’ll certainly have my vote as we need a straight talker like you in Denver government. Thank you again.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

The police are not there to protect you. Responsible citizens protect themselves using the right tool for the job. Go get a handgun and take a class.

Posted by Justice4all on October 3, 2007 02:26 PM

haveing several friends on the DPD. They tell me off the record about crime and how the stats are played with. A figure that is not taken into account is the crimes commited by ILLEGALS. With Denver being a sanctuary city (thanks Pena, Webb, and Hickenlooper), illegals and the average crime they commit are not followed up on.

I am not saying all crime is commited by them. However there is a large alarming percentage of crime that is. As long as the crime is not of extrodinary violent nature, ie rape or murder. Denver will not and are not allowed to follow up on these. Hence a huge crime rate that is not reported.

Denver supports crime with its antigun laws and absurd restrictions on the law abiding citizen. If CCP's were more readily available, and ownership not so restricted, crime would be indeed on the way down. Giving citizens a chance to defend themselves is always a positive. It is a second amendment right. A right that leftists want desperately to take away.

In California thier attempts have failed , so now they are going after ammunition by taxing an extra $.05 cents per round per box. Trying to make it unaffordable to defend ones self.

Lets put crime on notice and elected candidates who will help to enforce the law and not politicise it by being pc for the left.

Posted by Vigilant on October 3, 2007 03:36 PM

Vigilant, your post is informative. But could you tell us what CCP's are? (A Citizen's Conceal Permit?)

Posted by Denise on October 3, 2007 04:01 PM

CCP = concealed carry permit

Posted by Justice4all on October 3, 2007 04:11 PM

The question I have been pondering for years is who do the police really protect and serve.

In my 54 years I never ever had the police protect or serve me.

I've been burgalarize, a car stolen, assualted, called for them to enforce the parking laws in my neighborhood and call them to stop theifs from stealing my neighbors goods, all with either late responses(45min- 11/2 hr) or just not showing up at all.

If they do show up the are uninterested and sometimes down right annoyed. Then I read them the riot act and tell them to get the hell out of here.
I don't even bother to call them anymore and hope I never have to the lazy, surly misfits.

The day I received my conceal carry permit in 2004, the seargent at the desk behind the bullet proof glass gave me a dirty look, so i ask him what was his problem, but he put his head down and started doing his paperwork.

Posted by Serve & Protect on October 3, 2007 04:36 PM

WHO PROTECTED NEVEAH?
We're all vunerable in different respects.

Posted by on October 3, 2007 06:07 PM

I just can't understanded how the Denver D.A. let the two killers of Neveah go?

The mother confessed to helping prepare the body for dumping.Isn't there a law on the books about desecrating a body?Filing a false police report?Those are ay least 2 charges that could have been filed to keep her in jail until test results and cororners report.

He was a sex offender who was not registered at the address he was living.Isn't that one charge they could have charged him with? Isn't there some penalty for not registering?Also they had the mothers confession that he help dump the body. Doesn't that warrant a charge?

The D.A. can't tell the public in good faith that they couldn't charge these monsters with SOMETHING until they got the other charges backed up with the scientific evidence.

DENVER IS ONE MESSED UP TOWN!

I'd like to see a huge demonstration against the D.A. for letting too cold blooded murderers walk free and have the opportunity to run,IN FRONT OF COORS STADIUM BEFORE DURING AND AFTER THE ROCKIES GAME!

Show the country what it is like to live in a lawless city!

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on October 4, 2007 07:38 AM

Serve and Protect...I think you need a security guard. In most cities, there are only 2-3 police officers per 1000 citizens. Now if you wanted police to protect you 100% of the time, we would need about 200 cops per thousand citizens, so there would be one on every corner...do you really want that?

Can I get an AMen...They will be charged, police are waiting for autopsy results so they will have a air tight case. You see...this little thing called the constitution has to be followed by police...and given the need for additional evidence, they had to release them. Don't worry...the warrants will be out soon, and they will be back in jail, they are being closely watched while they are out. I suggest you go back to school and study law before making your stupid comments.

To all...yes, crime stats are played with, I have seen it with my own eyes. Making Burglaries into thefts, and assaults into harassments. This is usually done by police "brass" who want to look good to their superiors. Meanwhile, the line cops are out trying to put their thumb in the breaking dam without any support from administrators....who are always yelling for "more traffic tickets!"

Posted by on October 4, 2007 08:54 AM

I don't how the DPD or city prosecutor operates, but if I wanted to report a drop in the crime rate, I'd simply stop reporting crimes that occur.

Posted by Stan B on October 4, 2007 09:43 AM

Post 9:43

What I and other citizens need is for the police to do their damn job and you must be one of those lazy, scared of their own shadow cowards or have one for a family member.
If they are not moonlighting while on the job they are hanging out at Denny's 3-4 units at a time. They also like to hide their patrol cars in their garages at home for hours at a time while on duty like the one that lived behind me.
They also like to go commit adultery with their fellow officers wives and fornicate with the tramps that will have them while on duty also.
Most are bordeline crimminals themselves in not all out gangsters.

I have told two cops on the downtown 16th St mall that were giving me their everybody is a crimmal look, Why are you looking at me like that, you think I'm a crimmanal like you and the funny thing is they know it's true and turn their face away.
Most of these wife beaters couldn't get a concealed carry permit as I did and carry a gun if they weren't on the force where their superiors cover up all their crimes.

All your B.S. in defense of these slackers and cowards is indefensible.
The Denver police are worthless Period,

Your the one who will maybe need me to defend your life someday when you're waitng for one of these losers to show up.

The only way the they'll show up in droves and in seconds is if you call and say "Officer Down".
So keep your ignorant mouth shut cop groupie until you stat telling it like it really is with these losers.

Posted by Serve and Protect on October 4, 2007 10:27 AM

Correction: Post : 8:54

Anothe Coward hiding in the shadows

Posted by Serve and Protect on October 4, 2007 10:56 AM

Serve and Protect,

Are you actually addressing me, or do you have me confused with someone else?

Posted by Stan B on October 4, 2007 12:53 PM

Serve and Protect is addressing the mouse in his pocket or the voice in his head. Maybe he'll shoot it and put them both out of our misery.

I can hear him now "YOU LOOKIN' AT ME?" Let's just call him Taxi Driver.

Posted by CrazywithGun on October 4, 2007 01:56 PM

Criminals prefer unarmed victims. Don't believe me? Ask one.

When some scumbag is breaking down your back door, which would you rather do; call
911 and hide in the corner till the cops come(if they come), or have the means to defend yourself?

Well, I prefer the latter. I have the means, knowledge, training, and experience to defend myself, and I'll take that over the fastest police response time any day(night)
of the week.

I do understand, though, that there are a lot of bleeding-heart lefties who'd
rather curl up in the corner
and wait for the criminal to assult, rob, rape, or murder them. That's fine.

Don't expect me to ever roll over and be a victim.
I'll protect me and mine to the death, no cops needed.

Posted by RickyLee on October 4, 2007 02:22 PM

Got that Serve and Protect. Accidents happen.

Posted by Stan B on October 4, 2007 03:20 PM

YEE HAW! Ricky Lee. I dun hopes one o' yourn don't fahgit theyuh key wun naight and end up eatin' lead fired by theyuh daddy!

Posted by CrazywithGun on October 4, 2007 03:50 PM

There is a common sentiment on gun related boards that goes.... When seconds count, the Police are only minutes away.

With recent rulings stating that the police do not have to protect you and are immune from that threat as well as the fact that I don't have a cop living at my house, I take it upon myself to protect myself and family.

I have a Colorado and a Utah CCW permit and I carry all the time. I have been vetted by both states as well as the Federal Government. I have been through training, to an extent that most police officers don't go through and put in more range and tactical time than all but possibly a SWAT officer. Do I do this to be Rambo? nope. I do this so that if I ever had to, I could defend mine or my loved one's lives. Do I hope to never have to use it... Yes... For those interested, I carry a HK P7.

As with every profession, there are officer's who are great guys and a credit to the force. There are others who abuse the power they have. That happens. If you ever wanted to see a force with a high percentage of corruption, Denver isn't even on the list... Try Chicago... Washington DC and New York...They have interesting tales.

Posted by Dravur on October 4, 2007 05:06 PM

I take it from his asinine comments, CrazywithGun is anti-gun and anti-carry. Why is it the anti-gun crowd can never come up with intelligent arguments for their case?

CrazywithGun, if you think you can come up with some intelligent comments, I'll be happy to debate with you.

Posted by wolf on October 4, 2007 08:12 PM

wolf...and your name says it all...predatory. You can try to defend and join the nut jobs ServeandProtect and RickyLee all you want....they're hair triggers with a hero/vigilante complex waiting to snap.

I have no problem with Dravur, he doesn't sound like he's chomping at the bit to shoot first and ask questions later.

Good luck with your crazy buddies.

Posted by CrazywithGun on October 5, 2007 09:31 AM

Crazy.

Put a big sign on your front door that says
"GUN FREE HOUSEHOLD"

You're a hypocrite if you don't.

Keep running your moronic mouth, you know
nothing of me, and you're showing your stupidity by attempting to paint me as;

"...hair triggers with a hero/vigilante complex waiting to snap."

I have military as well as
CCP training, and the only other person living with me is my wife, and she's quite willing to defend herself too. Is she a vigilante as well?

Tell us, are you one of the Chicken Littles who screamed there'd be blood running in the streets if Colorado passed the shall-issue concealed carry law?

Are you standing up today, over four trouble-free years later, screaming "I was wrong!"? I didn't think so.

Problem with people like you is, you don't have a viable argument, so you spew garbage like your Oct 4
3:20pm post.

Got your sign up yet, hypocrite?

Posted by RickyLee on October 5, 2007 10:04 AM

RickyLee, your post says it all and presents my viable argument for me.

Looking forward to seeing your crossfire with wolf and Serve and Protect.

Posted by CrazywithGun on October 5, 2007 11:30 AM

CrazywithGun, all you've done is throw insults around - you've validated my argument. Do you have anything intelligent to say to back up your anti-gun stance, or are insults the best you can do? Why exactly are you against concealed carry?

Posted by wolf on October 5, 2007 01:26 PM

The sky is falling, the sky is falling.....

There's gonna be blood running in the streets
if we don't take away all privately owned guns.....

The sky is falling, the sky is falling....

Crazy....the Colorado legislature says I have the right to defend myself in my home, so when you refer to me as a "vigilante" you're
LYING.

So, can we conclude that everything else you say is a lie as well?

Posted by RickyLee on October 5, 2007 02:16 PM

wolf...I haven't seen your argument or any validation. See my comments regarding Dravur. Your insults and baiting, as well as Ricky Lee's comments prove my point. Crazy people shouldn't have guns. Anyone who wants to buy/carry a gun should be subject to rigorous psychological testing. You have failed simple blog testing. Dravur's response is judicious and thoughtful. Your confrontational willingness to defend Serve and Protect (clearly crazy) and RickyLee (us against them) put you in the "accident waiting to happen category."

See? I have no problem with guns or carrying. And I have yet to see an argument against crazy people with guns...those with a "c'mon I dare you...go ahead, make a move" passive/aggressive mentality.

Why do you want crazy people to have and carry concealed weapons?!?!?

Posted by CrazywithGun on October 5, 2007 02:18 PM

I wasn't defending anyone. I merely commented in my first post that the anti-gun crowd consistently fails to formulate an intelligent argument. In my second post, I commented that by the way you've done nothing but throw around insults; you seemed to have validated that assessment. But, if you're not anti-gun as you claim, then you sure fooled me.

How would you implement this psych test for anyone who wants to carry? Who decides who's crazy and who isn't? Should we have psych tests for other things too, like buying a car or having children? After all, we don't want crazy people behind the wheel or endangering their children.

Posted by wolf on October 5, 2007 03:09 PM

How do you expect to get a response when law enforcement is preoccupied with calls from ILLEGALS which are so ridiculous. Yes, ridiculous.
I have a friend who is a fire fighter and they were called to a house where maybe one spoke broken English and they wanted to know if the firemen could get rid of "that smell". The Fireman asked if the people had ever smelled a skunk since that's what it was. Their response was "Well, can't you get rid of it?" The firefighters were disgusted to say the least.
The ridiculous calls are BESIDES the domestic disputes, burglaries, car accidents, and on and on that law enforcement is called to.
I realize that all calls are not made by ILLEGALS, but they are calls that should never be made. They should not be here.

Posted by c on October 5, 2007 04:28 PM

Where did CrazywithGun go? Looks like Wolf hit the nail on the head. Except for insults, I guess he couldn't come up with anything to say at all.

Posted by on October 6, 2007 12:25 PM

Funny how "Crazy" clairvoyantly knows everything regarding people who believe in the 2nd amendment; i.e. they're "an accident
waiting to happen".

Just another moron, clearly.

Posted by RickyLee on October 8, 2007 12:19 PM