The city of Denver has spent millions of dollars the last several years renovating Civic Center, the 16-acre park and public space downtown marked by beautiful trees, flower beds and monuments that is now listed as a National Historic Landmark.
This place at the heart of the city is home to some of the largest gatherings in Denver, ranging from A Taste of Colorado to the People’s Fair.
That is why we applaud the city for in the park, adding to the nine existing ones.
Don’t get us wrong here. We’ve been clear that Nor do we think unmanned aerial drones should be used that people reasonably expect in their backyards and homes.
Still, in public places where there is no expectation of privacy, and where police just can’t be all the time, video surveillance can be a useful tool that helps catch criminals after the fact and possibly deters some crimes from ever occurring.
More cameras in the park might have assisted police in investigating a case in April when someone fired shots into a crowd gathered at Civic Center for a 4/20 marijuana rally. Three people were wounded, and police are still investigating the shooting, which was not caught on camera.
Sadly, despite all of the efforts the city has put into keeping Civic Center hospitable to Denver residents and visitors, it remains a place where drug deals and even violent crimes occur. , 445 crimes were reported in the Civic Center area from January through June, up from 330 during the same period last year.
Some people don’t even like going to Civic Center if there’s not an event underway or if food trucks aren’t around because it just feels seedy at times.
The cameras are meant to help, but police say they’ve been putting extra boots on the ground, too. For the last several months, police officials say, two officers on foot have been assigned to Civic Center and mounted patrols have been boosted.
These are good steps, and we agree a broader approach to Civic Center’s woes, including social services, may be needed.
In the meantime, here’s hoping the additional electronic eyes help make it safer.
