Thread by @shayshinecastle

Next: Boulder Police quarterly update

documents.bouldercolorado.gov/WebLink/DocVie…

We just did the Reimagining Policing Plan, so I'm not sure how much of this will be new. But I'll tweet what is.

Crime up in 2023: violent and property crimes
Less robberies, tho, Chief Herold says. And fewer car thefts.

"Society crimes" or quality of life, like drugs, are up.

Property crime still below 2019. Violent crime is not: the highest it's been since 2019.

Herold gave an explanation of that, but I missed it. We're moving quickly

Drug overdoses way up. Primarily downtown and on Uni Hill: 40% of all ODs in 2023 and 60% of all fatal ODs

"Our officers are employing Narcan on a daily basis," Herold says, if not 3-5X a day. Related to fentanyl.

Deputy Chief Stephen Redfearn, fresh off his testimony in the Elijah McCain death case against Aurora PD, going over the geographic nature of crime. The library and Circle K are two noted hot spots.

"We're going to continue to have continued presence there as we're able to," Redfearn says.

Circle K was used as an example of success with stratified policing when we talked about the Reimagining Policing plan earlier this month.

Officers went in and recommended some changes at the store that increased visibility and discouraged theft. I don't remember the specific results.

Redfearn going over some major crimes: DV suspect shot and killed by cops after brandishing a weapon; murder of a child by its mom, motorcycle crashes, etc.

I don't really linger on these bc, while sad, the perp and victim know each other. Not really a danger to the community at large — except on a larger, societal level. Women and children are often the victims of violent crime.

Redfearn: In response to repeated ODs in Central Park, we arrested 7 ppl in one day for drug crimes. Including the aforementioned stabbing suspect released on PR bond. He's in jail for distribution of fentanyl.

Redfearn: We re-upped our focus on the Hill after a burglar hit several unlocked homes during the CU game. He was caught and arrested. We educated students on locking their doors, etc.

Friend: With the jail over-crowding, are they at their pre-COVID capacity?

Herold: They reached 490 persons in the jail. Most of the backup is the state (mental) hospital not accepting ppl for competency hearings. And 60-80 ppl awaiting trial.

Herold: "We are at the same jail standards we were at during the pandemic." That impacts who stays and who gets released quickly.
"They've never been at these numbers."

Redfearn: Bc some of the mental health and such, they can't house as many ppl bc it's not safe to share cells.

Herold: "We're all so frustrated right now. ... You see that some of the judges are releasing people on low-cash bonds. ... It's an interesting time, and the drug explosion that we're seeing is really scary."

Friend: We're the only one who can fill potholes on city roads. The county jail, only the county can do something about that.

It's almost like treating a drug epidemic with criminal justice doesn't work...? Weird.

Herold: The "criminal justice system right now is just not working holistically."

"There's no strategic deterrents on some of these crimes" bc other parts of the criminal justice system aren't working. "You are seeing a system that is broken."

"We really need transitional housing, drug and alcohol addiction, and deterrents on some of these lower-level crimes," Herold. "To have a municipal court system that is not working to its full potential ... is so troubling."

Cahn: "I agree with the chief. It is really challenging. We've got a difficult system. We need to have the ability to enforce our laws and have consequences when ppl don't come to court and repeat offenders."

Speer: Do we have data on hate crimes, wage theft and domestic violence? I've been hearing about increases in those.

Daniel Reinhard: We are working with the DV shelter, SPAN, and looking at frequency and severity of DV.

Promises more data on DV and hate crimes.

Speer: When we're looking at folks who are unhoused, they are typically more often the perps *and* victims, correct?

Herold: A significant amount of crime against the unhoused is committed by the unhoused.

Wallach: Are there specific policy changes you'd want to see at the jail to free up beds?
Herold: I've had these convos with DA. They need to fast track the ppl awaiting trial, whether bringing in visiting judges or doing it virtually.

Herold: "I think we need to take a hard look at some of the reforms that came after George Floyd .... (like) ways our municipal court system could hold people until" they determine what's best for that person

"Right now, I'd like to see mandated treatment."

We have limited resources for that, Herold says. And also the state mental health hospital. We have 60 ppl who need to be moved there but aren't. But we need the county and state to work together.

"Other than the global, structural solution that would help you do your job," anything else you need in the dept? Wallach asks.

Oh, just that. Just structural systemic changes.

More cops, Herold says.

Winer: What's happening with bike theft?
It's down this year, Reinhard says.

Doesn't have the data on that, but it will be provided along with other followup info on DV and hate crimes.

The end of another thrilling update.

@threadreaderapp please unroll. Thanks.