Denver Police Refute Union Head's Congress Testimony

DENVER, CO -- The Denver Police Department scrambled to counter the congressional testimony of DPD Union president and 32-year narcotics unit veteran Nick Rogers, who spoke to the Federal House Judicial Committee Thursday about his perception of the city's new so-called "Sanctuary City Ordinance."

Denver Police Chief Robert White said Rogers misrepresented the police department when he asserted under oath that he believes the new law is making Denver less safe and it makes it "more difficult to do his job without the risk of being terminated."

"Rogers was not representing the Denver Police Department and Rogers’ statements do not reflect DPD’s philosophy or practice," a statement from Denver PD said.

Rogers spoke Feb. 15 about his experience watching the heroin market starting in 2006 when a flood of heroin into Denver as part of the opioid crisis. Rogers said many of the sellers of heroin were undocumented immigrants who would be arrested and never show up for trial, but would then be arrested again with a new fake ID.

Rogers testified that the Denver police narcotics unit worked until recently with ICE agents to move toward deporting criminal drug dealers.

"The would interview the suspects and often put a detainer on those suspects if they were here illegally."

However, Rogers said that after the so-called Sanctuary City ordinance was passed in Oct. 2017, "we were informed that if we communicated with ICE, we were subject to discipline up to and including termination.

"The ordinance has had a chilling effect on our daily operations. We can no longer and share information with ICE. They can no longer call and ask us for assistance," Rogers said. "The ordinance has created a city that, in my opinion, is much less safe than it was prior to this ordinance." [See Rogers's three-minute testimony in video above.]

The Denver PD released a list of clarifications of Rogers's statements:

• The Denver Police Department does not support his statements.

• Our Denver ordinance clearly encourages participation with our federal partners when DPD is working on criminal investigations. We never restrict that important work.
• Immigration Customs Enforcement officials and other Federal officers have access to Federal databases, which include who is in Denver’s jails or custody.
• Our ordinance was designed to build trust between law enforcement and our community by ensuring that local law enforcement resources are not used to enforce Federal Civil Immigration laws. This law allows our officers to focus on fighting crime in Denver.
• Contrary to previous assertions, there is no special penalty for employees who violate this specific ordinance. It is the same for violating any ordinance.

“We value our relationships with our Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners and will always work with them on criminal matters,” said Denver Police Chief Robert White. “Our goal is to maintain a safe community where everyone feels free to participate in all this city has to offer. The Denver Police Department does not think this new Denver City Ordinance negatively impacts our ability to enforce the law in any capacity.

"A person’s immigration status is irrelevant in taking enforcement action with regards to criminal activity. In fact, we have found the ordinance has helped to solidify the relationship between the Police Department and Denver residents.," White continued in a statement. "It encourages people from all communities to actively participate as partners in the fight against crime by providing cooperation and information, which then helps us to take enforcement actions against those who engage in illegal activity.”

Image via YouTube