Wonder why you saw choppers?
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 09:17 p.m., June 16, 2008
Updated 11:18 p.m., June 16, 2008
Photo by BRIAN LEHMANN / Special to the Rocky
A helicopter flies over downtown Denver as part of a U.S. military training exercise, according to Denver police. Several helicopters were part of the exercise and would occasionally land and then take off again from the roof of the 1999 Broadway building.
Black Hawk helicopters buzzed downtown Denver and other neighborhoods Monday evening in a training exercise to prepare for a possible terrorist attack.
The flights had people all over town calling authorities to find out what was going on.
“It’s nothing more than Special Operations Command training with local authorities,” said Lt. Nathan Potter of Special Operations Command, which has authority over special forces with all branches of the military.
Potter would not say which branch of the military was flying the choppers over Denver.
The training has nothing to do with preparation for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Denver in August, Potter said.
“It’s routine preparation for the global war on terrorism,” he said.
Several Black Hawk helicopters were seen flying low near Coors Field during a home game of the Colorado Rockies.
Denver police received a number of calls about the helicopters.
“We’ve gotten quite a few calls, but it’s a training exercise that the DPD is involved in, and there’s nothing going on,” said a Denver police dispatcher. “The vast majority of people, after we tell them what’s going on, they say, ‘Oh, OK.’ ”
Potter said that the exercise will be taking place off and on in the city for the rest of the week.
The exercises will be conducted in the afternoon to evening hours, but he could not reveal any other details about the training due to its sensitive nature.
“The media will not be allowed to cover this training or conduct any interviews with those involved in the exercise,” said Potter.
He said that Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has been conducting similar exercises in other cities.
"It gives us a chance to train with local authorities and give the SOCOM guys a chance to get familiar with the larger cities,” said Potter.
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June 16, 2008
9:43 p.m.
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Clouser writes:
This is all the information they're releasing? For anyone who saw that exercise it was unlike anything I've seen downtown before. Is this related to the upcoming DNC convention perhaps?
June 16, 2008
9:47 p.m.
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youngman writes:
It all for the DNC....I just hope it ends soon I want to go to bed and they are flying right over me...hopefully Johnny boy didn't raise the 15 million due tonight so it will be cancelled...LOL
June 16, 2008
9:57 p.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
Ahh, the tin-foil nightmare has come true...Black Helicopters Overhead!!!
June 16, 2008
10:36 p.m.
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gs writes:
They were flying down East Colfax so maybe they were checking out the hookers?
June 16, 2008
11:03 p.m.
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Who_Me writes:
It was me. I work for the secret UN invasion force. See you real soon.
June 17, 2008
5:16 a.m.
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AA_Cunningham writes:
Helicopters were Army MH-60 Black Hawks and MH-6 MELBs.
June 17, 2008
8:28 a.m.
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Scott writes:
Terrorists? Oh, you mean Recreate-68 ;-)
Scott
June 17, 2008
8:51 a.m.
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solarfluff writes:
I was working downtown last night when I saw the choppers flying around the city. So, I got up on the roof of my office building and noticed that, after a couple of rounds, they starting landing one at a time on top of what looked the Ritz Carlton. After a few seconds one would lift off the roof and another would follow, doing the exact same landing and take-off. Raises more curious questions if this is just an exorcise...