POLICE TRANSPARENCY:
As seen in many communities across the country, police accountability and transparency are vital components to building a safe and positive environment for all. We need improves communication between police departments and the people and communities they service, in order to protect and support each other.
We all have a right to know how our laws are enforced and how our communities are policed. We want to reassure you our police department operates with transparency and accountability, which is why were committed to increasing police transparency here in Westminster.
At the Westminster Police Department, we take pride in being transparent with the public. We believe that when the public has access to accurate information about the way police operate, they have more trust in our officers.
POLICY/PROCEDURE:
The Westminster Police Department has contracted with Lexipol to have our polices reviewed and updated. Once this process is complete, you will be able to access those policies online. We hope to have this project completed by February 2024.
COMPLIMENTS OR COMPLIANTS:
It is the goal of the Westminster Police Department to provide the highest level of law enforcement services. We want to ensure our employees are performing their duties professionally. Police work is a complex job and we realize we may exceed or fall short of your expectations.
Compliments or complaints may be made at any time via any one of the ways listed below.
Emailed to police@westminsterco.gov
Handwritten or typed compliments or complaints may be mailed to:
Westminster Police Department Professional Standards
c/o Professional Services Commander
9110 Yates Street
Westminster, CO 80031
Call the non-emergency dispatch line at 303-658-4360 and a request to speak to the on-duty supervisor.
Come into the Public Safety Center located at 9110 Yates Street and ask to speak with the on-duty sergeant or commander. We value your input on the level of service we deliver.
BODY-WORN CAMERA (BWC): The planning, purchasing and deploying of 200 Axon Body 3 cameras began at the end of 2020. In March 2021, the department had their first team of early adopters equipped with body cameras. This included at least one officer from every shift and section. In November 2021 the department had every officer equipped with a body camera.
Westminster PD has fully implemented the BWC program ahead of the July 1, 2023 date required by SB20-217.. All sworn Police and Animal Management officers are equipped, trained and utilizing their assigned camera each day when interacting with citizens. We currently have 200 plus Axon Body Camera 3s in use and looking forward to upgrading to Axon Body Camera 4s in the latter part of 2023, early 2024. The newer cameras have updated features such as wider field of view and more accurate GPS location.
Our body worn camera unit consists of 4 technicians, they are supervised by the Technical Services Commander. There is currently one vacancy in the unit.
The technicians are responsible for maintaining the functionality of the cameras and their associated equipment. They also account for, properly categorizing and identifying all body worn camera videos in Evidence.com. They set up the officers' equipment, and train them on the use of their camera. When a public request for a video comes into records, they are responsible for the redaction of those videos in accordance with the Colorado Open Records Act.
Body-Worn Camera Footage Library
ANTI BIAS-RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE:
The Westminster Police Department complies with HB 15-1287, which mandates training requirements for Colorado Police officers in the areas of; Anti Bias training, Community Policing and De-Escalation skills. In addition, this bill created Rule 28 which further defines required areas of training for police officers in the State of Colorado.
THIN BLUE LINE:
The blue line represents the men and women of law enforcement who stand in the gap between the lawless and the innocent. The background to the flag is stark, representing the men and women who have died defending that line, all embracing the American flag and the unity it symbolizes.
The thin blue line is sometimes mistaken for what some have called the blue wall of silence. That wall, which has indeed existed in some times and places, refers to the shielding of police officers by their colleagues from responsibility for misconduct. The representation of the blue wall of silence is not a revered value to police officers, but a vestige of the past that leaders must still work to overcome.
The rich and deep symbolism of the thin blue line, and the flag on which it appears, is not a flag of defiance. It is not part of a battle cry by police officers of aggression toward the public or those who oppose law and order. It is not a flag pronouncing superiority of class or privilege. It is a symbol to the citizenry that the thin blue line will not be broken. When it appears, it says of the bearer that they support the concept of justice and reason, as well as the strength of the law as enforced by those entrusted to do so. For a police officer, it says they are a part of something bigger than themselves. For the civilian, it says they are willing to stand with those who join in everyone’s responsibility to maintain peace and those whose vocation is dedicated to maintaining peace.
Reference: https://tinyurl.com/3unb4f6c
WPD & IMMIGRATION INFORMATION:
We know our community members may be looking for more information on the role of local law enforcement in Colorado regarding immigration laws. We value our partnership with our community and the importance of transparency and information sharing. The Westminster Police Department (WPD) is committed to providing a safe and secure community. If anyone, regardless of where they are from, violates local or state criminal laws, WPD will take appropriate action and arrests may be made. Legally, however, these detentions/arrests cannot be made based on immigration status. WPD cannot extend the duration of the detention based on someone’s immigration status. If there is a warrant signed by a judge, whether it be local, state, or federal, WPD may arrest that person(s). If a person is taken to one of our county jails (Adams County Detention Facility in Brighton or Jefferson County Detention Facility in Golden), it is the responsibility of the jail to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the person(s) that may have violated immigration laws.
In 2019, a Colorado law was passed regarding detentions relating to a person’s immigration status. Specifically, Colorado Revised Statute § 24-76.6-102 – Civil immigration detentions states:
• A law enforcement agency shall not continue to detain an inmate after the inmate is eligible for release from custody based solely on a civil immigration detainer.
• Requests for civil immigration detainers are not warrants.
• A law enforcement agency shall not arrest a person based on a civil immigration detainer.
This means that members of the Westminster Police Department may not detain someone based on an immigration detainer. Even if someone was lawfully detained by WPD for violating a criminal statute, their detention could not be extended based on their immigration status or based on an immigration detainer. The law does allow for local law enforcement agencies to help federal authorities in situations where there are federal warrants for arrests relating to criminal activity, but an immigration detainer is not a warrant.
The Colorado Revised Statute § 24-76.6-102, in its entirety, is below:
Colorado Revised Statute § 24-76.6-102. Civil immigration detainers - legislative declaration.
(1) The general assembly finds and declares that:
(a) Federal immigration authorities at times submit requests to state and local law enforcement agencies to detain an inmate after the inmate is eligible for release from custody. Continued detention of an inmate under a federal civil immigration detainer constitutes a new arrest under state law and a seizure under the fourth amendment of the United States constitution.
(b) Requests for civil immigration detainers are not warrants under Colorado law. A warrant is a written order by a judge directed to a law enforcement officer commanding the arrest of the person named, as defined in section 16-1-104 (18). None of the civil immigration detainer requests received from the federal immigration authorities are reviewed, approved, or signed by a judge as required by Colorado law. The continued detention of an inmate at the request of federal immigration authorities beyond when he or she would otherwise be released constitutes a warrantless arrest, which is unconstitutional, People v. Burns, 615 P.2d 686, 688 (Colo. 1980).
(2) A law enforcement officer shall not arrest or detain an individual on the basis of a civil immigration detainer request.
(3) The authority of law enforcement is limited to the express authority granted in state law.
(4) Nothing in this section precludes any law enforcement officer or employee from cooperating or assisting federal immigration enforcement authorities in the execution of a warrant issued by a federal judge or magistrate or honoring any writ issued by any state or federal judge concerning the transfer of a prisoner to or from federal custody.
(5) Nothing in this section precludes any law enforcement officer from investigating or enforcing any criminal law or from participating in coordinated law enforcement actions with federal law enforcement agencies in the enforcement of local, state, or federal criminal laws.
This summary is intended to inform you of the legal framework within which local law enforcement agencies operate.
If you have any questions, you can call our non-emergency number at 303-658-4360 or contact us through social media platforms. We have officers and police employees that are fluent in Spanish and Hmong and have translation services available in all languages to better serve anyone that has questions. A Spanish translation will be posted shortly as well.
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Sabemos que los miembros de nuestra comunidad pueden estar buscando más información sobre el papel de las autoridades locales en Colorado con respecto a las leyes de inmigración. Valoramos nuestra asociación con nuestra comunidad y la importancia de la transparencia y el intercambio de información. El Departamento de Policía de Westminster (WPD) está comprometido a brindar una comunidad segura. Si alguien, independientemente de su procedencia, viola las leyes penales locales o estatales, el WPD tomará las medidas apropiadas y se podrán realizar arrestos. Legalmente, sin embargo, estas detenciones/arrestos no pueden realizarse en función del estatus migratorio. WPD no puede extender la duración de la detención basándose en el estatus migratorio de una persona. Si hay una orden firmada por un juez, ya sea local, estatal o federal, el WPD puede arrestar a esa(s) persona(s). Si una persona es llevada a una de nuestras cárceles del condado (Centro de Detención del Condado de Adams en Brighton o Centro de Detención del Condado de Jefferson en Golden), es responsabilidad de la cárcel notificar al Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) de EE. UU. sobre la(s) persona(s) que puede haber violado las leyes de inmigración.
En 2019, se aprobó una ley en Colorado sobre detenciones relacionadas con el estatus migratorio de una persona. Específicamente, el Estatuto Revisado de Colorado § 24-76.6-102 – Detenciones civiles de inmigración establece:
• Una agencia de aplicación de la ley no continuará deteniendo a un recluso después de que el recluso sea elegible para ser puesto en libertad basándose únicamente en una orden de detención de inmigración civil.
• Las solicitudes de detenciones civiles de inmigración no son órdenes judiciales.
• Una agencia de Policía no arrestará a una persona basándose en una orden de detención de inmigración civil.
Esto significa que los miembros del Departamento de Policía de Westminster no pueden detener a nadie basándose en una orden de detención de inmigración. Incluso si alguien fue detenido legalmente por WPD por violar un estatuto penal, su detención no podría extenderse basándose en su estatus migratorio o en base a una orden de detención de inmigración. La ley permite que las agencias policiales locales ayuden a las autoridades federales en situaciones en las que existen órdenes federales de arresto relacionadas con actividades delictivas, pero una orden de detención de inmigración no es una orden judicial.
El Estatuto Revisado de Colorado § 24-76.6-102, en su totalidad, se encuentra a continuación:
Estatuto Revisado de Colorado § 24-76.6-102. Detenciones civiles de inmigración - declaración legislativa.
(1) La asamblea general determina y declara que:
(a) Las autoridades federales de inmigración en ocasiones presentan solicitudes a las agencias policiales estatales y locales para detener a un recluso después de que el recluso sea elegible para ser puesto en libertad. La detención continua de un recluso bajo una orden de detención de inmigración civil federal constituye un nuevo arresto según la ley estatal y una incautación según la cuarta enmienda de la Constitución de los Estados Unidos.
(b) Las solicitudes de detenciones de inmigración civiles no son órdenes judiciales según la ley de Colorado. Una orden, es una orden escrita de un juez dirigida a un oficial de policía que ordena el arresto de la persona nombrada, como se define en la sección 16-1-104 (18). Ninguna de las solicitudes de detención de inmigración civil recibidas de las autoridades federales de inmigración es revisada, aprobada o firmada por un juez como lo exige la ley de Colorado. La detención continuada de un recluso a petición de las autoridades federales de inmigración más allá de la fecha en que de otro modo sería liberado constituye un arresto sin orden judicial, lo cual es inconstitucional, People v. Burns, 615 P.2d 686, 688 (Colo. 1980).
(2) Un oficial de policía no arrestará ni detendrá a un individuo sobre la base de una solicitud de detención de inmigración civil.
(3) La autoridad de aplicación de la ley se limitada a la autoridad expresa otorgada en la ley estatal.
(4) Nada en esta sección impide que cualquier funcionario o empleado encargado de hacer cumplir la ley coopere o ayude a las autoridades federales de inmigración en la ejecución de una orden emitida por un juez o magistrado federal o que cumpla con cualquier orden judicial emitida por cualquier juez estatal o federal con respecto a la transferencia de un prisionero hacia o desde la custodia federal.
(5) Nada en esta sección impide que cualquier funcionario encargado de hacer cumplir la ley investigue o haga cumplir cualquier ley penal o participe en acciones policiales coordinadas con agencias federales encargadas de hacer cumplir la ley en la aplicación de leyes penales locales, estatales o federales.
Este resumen tiene como objetivo informarle sobre el marco legal dentro del cual operan las agencias locales de aplicación de la ley (Policia).
Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede llamar a nuestro número que no es de emergencia al 303-658-4360 o contactarnos a través de las plataformas de redes sociales. Contamos con oficiales y empleados de policía que hablan Español y Hmong con fluidez y contamos con servicios de traducción disponibles en todos los idiomas para atender mejor a cualquiera que tenga preguntas.
BUDGET:
2023 Total Budget: $43,315,150
2023 Grant Amount Awarded (Projected): $472,569
(This is projected because not all grant awards have been announced to-date)
2023 Police Department Grants |
HVIDE | Overtime Expenses |
Co-Responder Services Program Grant | Salary, Benefits, Supplies, Training and Travel |
CVS VOCA Grant (2 Year Grant) | Salary and Benefits |
EBM JAG | Equipment |
LEAF | Overtime Expenses |
| |
NEW CDOT Highway Safety Office Grant | Overtime & Lidars |
ICAC | Training & Travel |
DOLA | Mandatory Wellness & Training |
CATPA-CMATT | Salary, Benefits & Overtime |
State Grants (HVIDE, LEAF, CATPA-CMATT, and Co-Responder Services Program):
HVIDE and LEAF is for DUI Enforcement.
CATPA-CMATT is for partial re-imbursement for an Auto Theft Detective’s salary, benefits and overtime for cases that occur within our jurisdiction. We are unable to accurately project for current and future years. It is case dependent. In the past, we were considered a Vendor with CMATT, so there will be no GIN assigned if that remains the case.
The Co-Responder Services Program is for full funding for 2.0 FTE Co-Responders and partial funding for a Co-Responder Supervisor. We anticipate applying for annually so long as funding continues to be available.
Federal Grants (EBM JAG, ICAC, CVS-VOCA, DOLA and CDOT):
EBM JAG is a local solicitation grant that is utilized to purchase needed equipment. Historically, the awarded amount changes. It is never consistent.
ICAC provides for training and travel.
The CVS-VOCA grant is for partial funding for salary and benefits for a 1.0 FTE fulltime Court VA and partial funding for salary and benefits for a 1.0 FTE part-time salary Court VA as well as for emergency funds. Funding for the CVS-VOCA Grant is a 2-year grant.
DOLA is for Mandatory Wellness Checks, training and travel for sworn officers. It run over 1 year.
The PD anticipates being officially awarded two separate CDOT grants that will provide for overtime and equipment. Both these grants have the possibility to run for a total of 3 years each.
COMMITTEE ON DISPOSITION OF FORFEITED PROPERTY:
The Committee on Disposition of Forfeited Property will meet Feb. 25, 2025 at 9 a.m. at the Public Safety Center located at 9110 Yates St, Westminster, CO 80031.