The Downtown Denver Partnership; Mayor Michael B. Hancock and the City and County of Denver; the Department of Public Safety, including Denver Police Department, Denver Fire and Denver Sheriff; the Regional Transportation District (RTD); and the District and U.S. Attorney’s offices have united to address public health and safety challenges facing Downtown Denver. Through the new Downtown Action Partners coalition, we are committed to building a better Downtown Denver for all. And, together we will.

A Commitment To Downtown Denver

The challenges are significant, we are confident in our collective will and ability to build a better Downtown Denver for all. Throughout Denver’s history, a collaborative spirit has propelled us forward in the face of hardships. Today is no different. We must come together as a city and as a community to address these challenges. 

The goal is to address both immediate health and safety concerns while targeting root problems and identifying long-term solutions to the challenges facing the center city. These efforts, launched in November 2022, will span the entirety of downtown, with a concentration of resources first deployed in areas experiencing higher levels of crime and public health incidents. Though the circumstances we face are not exceptional, what will set us apart is how we address the challenges before utilizing a compassionate, community-minded approach ensure the health and safety of everyone in our center city. 

These actions will include:

  • Mobilizing the Downtown Action Team, a cross-agency effort to join enforcement and outreach. The Action Team joins responders from the Denver Police Department, the Department of Safety Street Enforcement Team, Denver Fire Department Medical Unit, WellPower (mental health) clinicians, and DDPHE’s Substance Abuse Navigators and public health inspectors, DOTI graffiti and trash, with support being provided by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (DDBID) Clean and Safe teams. Efforts will be focused first on areas of heightened concern downtown, including the Colorado Convention Center Corridor. 
  • Significantly growing response teams across the Denver Police Department (hiring 180 additional officers citywide throughout 2023), the DDBID, RTD Police, U.S. Attorney General for the District of Colorado, and other agencies to ensure that teams are adequately staffed. 
  • Implementing public realm improvements grounded in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies, including enhanced lighting, wayfinding, and music, in partnership with Denver’s Department of Public Safety and downtown property owners utilizing $500K in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. 
  • Increased coordinated advocacy for local, state, and federal policies that strengthen the critical tools needed to meaningfully address crime and provide resources to address mental health and drug misuse. 



Upcoming Events

Safety & Security Briefings

Join us for our monthly, virtual safety and security briefings. You’ll hear from our Director of Safety and Security, DPD and other timely guests. Register now for this no-cost event!​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Past Events

April 26, 2023

The Downtown Denver Partnership held the final session in our 3-part speaker series, Together We Will: Public Health & Public Safety, at the Buell Public Media Center. Kate Barton, Chief of External Affairs and Managing Director of the Partnership moderated a panel discussion with U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan, Denver Health CEO DrPH Donna Lynne, Denver City Attorney Kerry Tipper, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas, and Denver District Attorney Beth McCann to discuss the coordinated efforts that are providing policy-driven and individualized solutions across the continuum of care.

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March 9, 2023

The Downtown Denver Partnership held the second session in our 3-part speaker series, Together We Will: Public Health & Public Safety, at the Buell Public Media Center. Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO of the Partnership moderated a panel discussion with Evan Dreyer, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer, Mayor’s Office; Mandy Fiegel, Outreach Case Coordinator Supervisor, Denver Police Department; Chris Richardson, Associate Director of Clinical Services, Wellpower; Lorez Meinhold, Executive Director, Caring for Denver Foundation; and Tristan Sanders, Director of Community & Behavioral Health, City and County of Denver to discuss strategies to connect individuals to critical resources and how their respective efforts are positively impacting lives.  

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February 8, 2023

The Downtown Denver Partnership held the first session in our 3-part speaker series, Together We Will: Public Health & Public Safety, at the Buell Public Media Center. Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO of the Partnership moderated a panel discussion with our Downtown Action Partners – Kim Bowser, Commander District 6, Denver Police Department; Steven Martingano, Deputy Chief of Police, RTD; Armando Saldate, Executive Director, Department of Safety, City and County of Denver; Kerry Tipper, City Attorney, City and County of Denver – to discuss the challenges our community is facing, the efforts already underway to make positive change, and how you can plug in.

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December 15, 2022

The Downtown Denver Partnership hosted a virtual update on progress and answered questions from the community, with representatives from our Downtown Action Partners – RTD, Denver Police Department, and the District Attorney’s office.

November 14, 2022

The Downtown Denver Partnership hosted a virtual Public Health & Safety Briefing where President & CEO, Kourtny Garrett spoke to the information provided in the November 10 press conference and provided further detail about how the Partnership, Downtown Denver BID, and our Action Partners are committed to better public health and safety issues impacting the quality of life for all in Downtown Denver.

November 10, 2022

Together as the Downtown Denver Action Partners, the Downtown Denver Partnership; Mayor Michael B. Hancock and the City and County of Denver; the Department of Public Safety, including Denver Police Department, Denver Fire and Denver Sheriff; the Regional Transportation District (RTD); and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado today announced an infusion of resources to address both immediate health and safety concerns in the center city while targeting root problems and long-term solutions.

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