Denver cuts $8.4 million from police to help immigrants
Fox News’ Alicia Acuña reports that Denver, Colorado, city officials are making cuts to city services in response to the migrant crisis. Colorado radio host Ross Kaminsky responds on America’s Newsroom.
Three Denver Police officers have been fired after a group text thread was leaked that allegedly contained “derogatory” messages about illegal immigrants.
The department confirmed the firings to Fox News Digital.
According to authorities, on April 4, 2024, the Denver Police Department (DPD) learned of disturbing messages being shared in a group chat made up of Denver Police Officers who had graduated from the training academy together.
DPD immediately began investigating the matter and during the course of a thorough investigation, it was discovered that on March 27, 2024, three officers posted derogatory messages in a group chat.
Denver releases ‘playbook’ to help other cities accommodate immigrant ‘newcomers’
Denver, Colorado Police Department sign (Fox News Digital/Lisa Benatan)
All three officers, Rodrigo Basulto, Megan Joy and Scott Persichet, were fired “for cause,” according to the Colorado State Police Standards and Training Activities Report.
“The messages included jokes about going to a rookie shelter for target practice,” authorities said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Due to the abusive nature of the messages, the officers, who were still in their probationary period after graduating from the Denver Police Academy, have been terminated from the Denver Police Department, effective July 22, 2024.”
“The Denver Police Department is appalled by the subject of the message, which runs counter to the department’s mission and values and disrespects not only our new recruits and the community, but all other officers who work to keep us safe,” the department said in a statement. everyone Our community is safe.”
— DPD Media Relations Team
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Illegal immigrants camped in Denver have drawn up a list of demands they want the city government to meet before they can be moved to city-funded shelters. (Hyeon Chang/The Denver Post)
It was not immediately clear how the text messages were discovered.
Denver city officials released a “playbook” in May to help other cities accommodate “immigrant newcomers.”
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Crews in Denver prepare to remove people from the largest migrant camp on 27th Street between Zuni and Olcott streets in Denver on Jan. 3, 2024. (Hyeon Chang/The Denver Post)
The 15-step “playbook” describes undocumented immigrants as “newcomers” in the first paragraph and offers several ways other cities can address the crisis by outlining best practices and procedures for integrating immigrants into communities.
The guide refers to immigrants as “newcomers” to acknowledge that those crossing the border are “newcomers to our city,” and explains that it is an attempt to adopt “more inclusive language.”
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The surge in migrants has strained the city’s resources, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said. Save millions Newsweek magazine reported that budget cuts have been made to accommodate them, including a roughly $8.4 million, or 1.9 percent, reduction in DPD’s budget.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Johnston’s office for comment but has not yet heard back.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
