WEEK OF DECEMBER 26, 2024
VOLUME 80 | ISSUE 10
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State mulls stricter rules for police licensing Standard board asks to add 31 misdemeanors to disqualifying list BY ALLISON SHERRY CPR NEWS
A sampling of political mailers sent to residents in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District from the Evans and Caraveo campaigns.
PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR
Ten stories we talked about in 2024 lead until votes began trick- city officials in Northglenn in and 11275 Grant Drive will Westminster dog ling in from conservative April, prompted the State of now be the site of a two-year County in the far-flung Colorado to back off its plan pilot admission process, fopark stays as is while Weld 8 District. to house convicted sex of- cusing on “those individuals The district was as created fenders at two group homes who can most safely transition council in-fighting in in 2022 and Caraveo won the in a Northglenn neighbor- to the MHTL homes,” accordseat with by just over 1,632 hood. ing to the Colorado Office of Thornton gets graphic votes over her Republican The proposal ignited the ire Civil and Forensic Health. th
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Close race for the 8th Congressional District goes to Gabe Evans
After neck-and-neck race for a seat in the Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in November, incumbent Democratic Yadira Caraveo conceded to Republican Gabe Evans five days after the final votes were cast. The two ran a tight race since the Nov. 5 vote, with Caraveo holding a a narrow
opponent Barb Kirkmeyer that year. The race was considered pivotal as Republicans and Democrats tried to hold majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives. Nearly $15 million in super PAC money streamed into the race by late October. In all, over $20 million in total was spent by PACs and the candidates on the 8th Congressional District contest by late fall.
Northglenn protests halfway house for sex offenders
Protests by residents and
VOICES: PAGE 8 | CULTURE: PAGE 10 | BRIEFS: PAGE 16
of residents who feared for the safety of children at nearby Stukey Elementary. City officials said they were informed at the last minute about the transition homes and the possibility that sex offenders could live there. A public meeting over the proposal at the Northglenn Recreation Center drew over 400 people. The city council passed an emergency ordinance putting the distance a sex offender could live near a school at 1,000 feet. The previous distance was 750 feet. The Mental Health Transitional Living Facility at 11255
Northglenn files ethics complaint against State Sen. Faith Winter
A united Northglenn City Council voted in late April to file an ethics complaint against State Sen. Faith Winter for showing up drunk to an April 3 community meeting of over 400 people. Winter was invited to the meeting to discuss a controversial move by the state to place group homes in a Northglenn neighborhood that would house convicted sex offenders. SEE REVIEW, P6
Child abuse, animal cruelty, theft, fraud, invasion of privacy for sexual gratification. In Colorado, a person can be convicted of these crimes — plus dozens of others — and still qualify to be a licensed peace officer responsible for dealing with people at their most vulnerable moments. The state agency in charge of licensing the state’s law enforcement officers wants that to change. The Peace Officers Standards and Training Board voted unanimously this month to ask the state legislature to add another 31 misdemeanor crimes to the existing list of 44 as “decertifying to be a peace officer.” That means if the legislature agrees, a law enforcement officer convicted of any of these crimes will also be decertified. The state already bars anyone convicted of any felony from being able to serve as a law enforcement officer. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office manages the POST board, said that adding to this list of disqualifying misdemeanors is long overdue. “Over a decade ago, the POST Board had recommendations for additional categories that should merit being decertified. The legislature failed to act,” he said. “It’s important that the public have full confidence in law enforcement, and conduct in these misdemeanor categories is unacceptable and should prevent someone from serving in law enforcement in Colorado.” Currently not included in that disqualifying list is violating a protective order – something state officials hope the legislature adds. SEE RULES, P15
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