Hick vows double-barrel remedy for halting gangs

Display of colors, fistfight lead cops to beef up patrols

Bianca Prieto, Hector Gutierrez and Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 13, 2007 at midnight

Text size  

• 0 Comments
• Email
• Print

Mayor John Hickenlooper said today that Denver will tame gang tensions with a combination of police power and alternative recreational and job programs for youngsters.

"It's not just City Park," the mayor said in response to concerns about gang confrontations at the popular City Park summer jazz series.

"We need to demand that every single park is safe, and that kids and families feel safe walking from their homes to the park," he said.

"If that requires a greater police presence, then we need to have that presence," said Hickenlooper, noting that the police department added 150 new officers in the past 18 months.

"At the same time we're doing that ...we have to put a greater effort into giving more attractive alternatives for kids in terms of how they choose to spend their time," he said. "We have have more summer jobs for at-risk kids. We've got to have more kids in programs in our rec centers and in our Boys & Girls Clubs."

He stressed that low-income families need to know that city rec centers will waive fees for kids who can't pay for programs.

City Council President Michael Hancock said he consulted with city Manager of Safety Al LaCabe after several residents raised concerns about red-clad gang members grabbing attention by parading in front of the stage at the City Park Jazz debut concert June 3.

"I got quite a bit of feedback from people who asked me what the city was doing," Hancock said this morning.

Hancock has spearheaded efforts to address gang problems.

"I think the police are on it. A lot is going on right now from the city standpoint in trying to be extremely proactive in identifying who the potential members are who are perpetrating this tension," he added.

Hancock, who launched a "Summer of Peace" anti-gang initiative endorsed by the council this week, said the city is working on wide-ranging solutions to offer young people healthy alternatives to gangs.

While police are quietly holding talks with gangs to deter violent confrontations, Hancock said, he is encouraging ministers and other faith group leaders to engage their members and families in promoting peace in their communities.

"People can just choose, 'I'm going stand for peace this summer' and plant 'Summer of Peace' yard signs and do things to engage young people in healthy activities," he said.

"It's going to take a very comprehensive approach to deal with this," Hancock emphasized. "We can't just do this with law enforcement.

Everyone has to be involved in helping to make sure that we quell these tensions and that we don't lose any children this summer."

Two activists say they fear members of rival gangs are turning the jazz concerts that draw thousands of concertgoers, many with small children, into a stage for their turf battles.

But LaCabe, who attended the first two performances, said concertgoers should not fear for their safety because police are prepared to deal with any problems.

LaCabe did say he was concerned the recent gang presence at the park might be an indication that tensions could spread through the rest of the city. He said he was working with other city officials and community groups to ease those tensions.

"Is this a sign of something that's going on in the city and whether that will manifest itself into violence in the future or in the summer or whatever? That's what we're looking at," LaCabe said.

Police already have increased their presence in the public park, and city officials are working with community leaders to make sure the concert series remains positive, family-friendly and safe.

"We don't think that our parks should be taken over by anyone," said Sonny Jackson, Denver police spokesman. "It should be free for anyone to enjoy."

Concert organizers spoke of the large group of gang members walking in front of the stage at the June 3 opener.

"There seemed to be a display by a gang," said Arthur Rosenblum, who sits on the board of directors for City Park Jazz. "There was a gang presence but no incidents that first night."

Then, on Sunday, a fistfight broke out during the concert.

LaCabe said the scuffle occurred on the west side of the park, away from the concert, and officers quickly intervened.

Most of the audience did not seem to be aware of the altercation, he said.

The Rev. Leon Kelly, of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives, said the fight involved members of two rival groups. They had traded several shots earlier in the week in other parts of the city, injuring a few people.

Several officers from District 2, the Gang Bureau and other off- duty officers working the event responded to the fight immediately.

No one was injured seriously, Jackson said, and no weapons were used. One person was arrested.

Police will continue an increased presence at the park on Sunday nights.

During its 21-year history, City Park Jazz has been mostly peaceful, Rosenblum said. Sunday's fight was unusual.

"We are concerned" he said. "We're not going to ignore it.

Concert organizers plan to meet with members of the manager of safety's office, as well as police, to discuss the problems.

Concerts for all ages

The free concerts draw crowds as large as 10,000 to hear locally and nationally known musicians from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Sunday through Aug. 5, organizers said.

In years past, large groups of teens have attended the concerts, but none were showing any gang colors, Rosenblum said.

"It's not just grandmas and grandchildren," he said. "It's (the teens') park, too. And they are always welcome, but we want to make sure it's safe."

Kelly, who works with at-risk children and knows about the gang culture in Denver, said City Park has become a gathering place for rival gang members who are trying to claim territory.

"What happened this past Sunday," Kelly said, "was dealing with the drive-bys and shootings every day last week."

On Monday night, the city council proclaimed 2007 as the Summer of Peace, part of a citywide effort to prevent violence through outreach and intervention.

"We're on the front lines with these kids," said Terrance Roberts, executive director of the Prodigal Son Initiative.

Roberts said he is concerned about the potential for violence between rival gangs at City Park and said more needs to be done in terms of crowd control.

"I'm wondering if they need to section it off and search people," Roberts said. "If they get to shooting in the park, there is going to be a bunch of different people who could get shot."

Chris Daniels, who will perform Sunday with his band, Chris Daniels & The Kings, said one reason organizers created the concert series was to encourage families and jazz fans to enjoy and reclaim the park from street gangs.

"In the 10 years that I've played it off and on - knock on wood - it's been great," Daniels said. "It's such a beautiful series, such great music, and it's such a family event with their blankets, their kids and their strollers."

Featured

• 2008 Voter’s Guide

  

  Use our Ballot Builder tool to compare your viewpoints to the candidates.

• A Dozen on Denver

  

  Sandra Dallas wrote 'Lennie's tavern' for our ongoing fiction series. Check it out!

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on today's events.

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's totally biased pregame rant about the Broncos-Jaguars game.

• Presidential Elections

  

  See how Colorado counties have voted through the years.

• County election profiles

  

  A look at how residents in each Colorado county may vote.

• A dream fulfilled

  

  A Rocky Mountain News and MediaStorm production

• Latest from Dove Valley

  

  Click for more broncos videos.

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  No. 44 means a lot to Floyd Little