Police and city leaders meet today to tackle gang issue

Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News

Published June 15, 2007 at midnight

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Denver police and city leaders will meet with community groups today to address their concerns about escalating gang tensions that alarmed fans at the City Park Jazz series.

"To me, the City Park Jazz series is sacred ground," said City Council member-elect Carla Madison, whose District 8 includes the park.

"That's one of those events where people of all economic groups, of all races and cultures, get together and enjoy and hang out together. It's just one of the most beautiful things that happens in this city. Nobody wants to see it infiltrated or bothered by the gangs," Madison said.

Madison will join city, police officials and the community groups at a 3 p.m. meeting at the Blair- Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St.

Supervisors from the police gang unit and the patrol districts for City Park and the downtown area will attend, said police spokeswoman Detective Virginia Quinones.

"Anything that will help to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Denver is certainly part of our mission," Quinones said.

Madison attended the season's first two jazz concerts. Up to 40 gang members clad in red paraded around to grab attention at the first concert, and a similar group got in a fistfight with rivals at the second.

The fistfight produced one arrest but no injuries.

She said people on the east side of the venue told her they saw only a few police as well as "large groups of young people that were just waiting for something to happen. That's what made a lot of people uncomfortable."

Regina Huerter, executive director of the Denver Crime Prevention Control Commission and an organizer of the rejuvenated Metro Denver Gang Coalition, plans to attend today's meeting.

The coalition and the Chicano Caucus have been working together to spearhead the "Summer of Peace," an anti-gang campaign.

"The Summer of Peace campaign is creating this positive vision for this summer and really trying to stand in contrast to the (1993) Summer of Violence we had," Huerter said Thursday.

That summer earned a bloody reputation because innocent bystanders were bloodied in the crossfire of gang clashes.

Huerter said she will bring yard signs emblazoned with a sunburst, peace symbol and "Summer of Peace - Get Informed! Get Involved!"

The strategy will range from police enforcement to providing youngsters healthy alternatives, including work and recreational programs and educational and mentoring support.

The regional coalition had already planned to hold meetings to encourage residents and businesses in gang-plagued neighborhoods to "take back their community," Huerter said.

Meanwhile, police have promised to increase the number of officers at this weekend's Jazz Series event.

The free concerts are from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sundays.

Meeting on gangs

• What: A meeting with police, city officials and community group leaders to discuss concerns about rising gang tensions in Denver

• When: 3 p.m. today

• Where: Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, 2401 Welton St.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486

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