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Grant for DNC left cops with plenty of gear

Councilman says equipment could be used in LoDo

By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 8, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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The Democratic National Convention proved to be a bonanza for the Denver police department and other city agencies, with perhaps $15 million in new equipment bought with a $50 million federal security grant to the host city.

Denver's police storehouses now resemble a law enforcement trade show, with a new hazardous materials vehicle, new rescue vehicle, riot control suits, pepper ball launchers, helmet cameras, Tasers, radios and more.

The booty means Denver police have access to important equipment that could be useful for future gatherings like the DNC or unexpected events, such as a major storm or terrorist attack, said Denver city councilman Doug Linkhart.

He cited $1 million worth of video surveillance equipment he said could be used in lower downtown parking lots or in graffiti hot spots. Dozens of mountain bikes could also be put to good use for police patrols, he said. But other items, he said, might not need to be pulled off the shelf.

"I'm sure there will be lots of things we won't need - or hopefully won't need," such as riot gear or pepper spray. "So I'm sure some of those items will be stored away and used only if we have another major event in town," Linkhart said.

But Linkhart's city council colleague, Charlie Brown, said Denver might want to consider renting or selling some of the stockpiles.

"We need to look at innovative ways at how we can use that equipment so it doesn't just gather dust in some warehouse, to bring money to the police department, to the city," Brown said.

Brown does not believe the $50 million provided to Denver was excessive, however, as Mark Cohen, co-founder of the protest group Re-create 68 suggested last week, when he told the Rocky the law enforcement expenditures for the DNC seemed "kind of overkill."

"I think we spent just about right," Brown said. "I don't think it was a waste at all."

Linkhart said cost totals in documents released by the city Friday show about $18 million worth of equipment for a wide variety of uses, but that a chunk of that money was used to rent items such as barricades. And some of it was perishable, such as $15,000 for "food for detainees," or pamphlets specific to the DNC.

The actual material purchases for city agencies are probably in the range of $10 to $15 million, Linkhart said. And even those numbers are subject to change. City officials have cautioned that final totals won't be known for two to three months.

The DNC bounty comes on the heels of millions of dollars worth of equipment Denver police, fire and emergency responders have purchased with federal homeland security money in recent years.

"It's a bonus for the city by all means," Linkhart said.

hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048

Comments

  • September 8, 2008

    6:21 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    DakotaPlainsman writes:

    The war chest is full. Stuff to put down 16 year old hippies with matted hair and dirty clothes. They'll even be able to track and apprehend the little green men when the new commission is formed to find them.
    But, can they protect the citizens from drivers of SUV's who have questionable citizenship, a long record of infractions, no drivers licence or insurance, and no respect for local laws?
    What in the war chest will give them the moral courage to uphold the laws....? Or are these just toys.
    What in that war chest will bring back the little boy and the two ladies killed last week? $15 aint enough. Money and toys aint enough.