Last year, an Aurora auto body shop owner saw a news report about a vehicle wanted by Denver police in connection with a hit-and-run accident.
The body shop owner recognized the truck. It was in his body shop. He called police, and the suspect was found.
That case inspired the Denver Police Department to create a formal program to seek help from body shop owners in solving serious hit-and-run accidents, said Detective David Ryan, who works in the department’s traffic investigations unit.
On Wednesday, the Police Department introduced its new auto body shop alert program during a news conference at Diamond Paint and Auto Body on West Evans Avenue.
So far, 34 body shops have signed up for the program, which will e-mail alerts with vehicle descriptions and the type of damage to look for. Alerts only will be sent for accidents involving serious bodily injury or fatalities and when there is enough information to make a possible match, said Lt. Robert Rock of the traffic investigations unit.
If a body shop owner believes a suspect’s car is in his garage, he can call police and detectives will be on their way. The garage owner will be asked to delay making repairs until police take a look.
Denver crime: Examine crime in Denver by neighborhood, offense and more
Denver police investigate thousands of hit-and-run cases each year. While most do not involve serious injury, their financial costs are extensive.
This year, there have been seven fatal hit-and-run cases, and two remain unsolved, Rock said.
The department hopes to sign up hundreds of auto body shops in Denver and the surrounding counties.
Spanky Rivers, Diamond’s owner, said he signed up for the program because he is familiar with the costs of hit-and-run accidents.
He pointed to a car with a crumpled front end sitting in his garage. That car suffered an estimated $5,000 in damages when someone hit it and drove away, he said.
“That’s why we decided to jump on board,” he said.
Denver police department auto body alert
To enroll, visit and click on the link for auto body alerts registration.
