Mayor Johnston Announces New Downtown Safety Plan

Mayor Johnston Announces New Downtown Safety Plan

Published on April 02, 2025

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, together with the Denver Police Department (DPD), the District Attorney's Office and multiple other partners, announced new resources today to enhance public safety downtown and meet the city's Safe and Vibrant goals.

"Revitalizing downtown has been a core focus for our administration since we took office, and investing in our safety and outreach resources is the clear next step," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "Downtown Denver is not just the backbone of Denver's economy, but it's the cultural and civic heart of the Mountain West. These new public safety resources -- coupled with $570 million in economic investments through the Downtown Development Authority, the completion of construction on 16th Street, and non-stop events and attractions all summer -- downtown is well on its way to being the vibrant core of our city once again."

Denver has made significant progress in addressing homelessness, driving down crime, and increasing foot traffic in our city center over the past 18 months. With Opening Day for the Colorado Rockies on Friday and the re-opening of 16th Street this summer, the additional public safety and outreach resources announced today send a clear message that Denver is reaffirming its commitment to creating a safer and more vibrant downtown.

"The Denver District Attorney's Office is all in to support the City and the community on Downtown safety," Denver District Attorney John Walsh said. "Having worked for decades downtown, I know what a wonderful place it is to work and to play. We're committed to ensuring that it remains a safe place, as well - and we've dedicated one of our most experienced prosecutors to help lead and coordinate with all our partners on safety."

"Last week, I decided to end a 1% fee that started in 2022 to address shoplifting and crime, not because of today's announcement, but because downtown had started to look and feel normal, like how it looked and felt when I bought the business more than ten years ago," said Derek Friedman, owner of SportsFan and Sock 'Em. "This plan for horses and bikes and foot patrols is exactly what we need, and I'm hopeful that it will bring the safety and vibrancy we deserve."

The Downtown Safety Action Plan will create a permanent downtown police unit, expand additional safety resources, and provide higher levels of outreach to those who need support.

"A safe, beautiful environment is the absolute cornerstone of a thriving downtown, and especially key as we continue our collective efforts to revitalize the heart of our city," said Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. "Creating a safe urban center - one that not only is safe but also feels safe - cannot happen without deep collaboration and a shared commitment to dedicating the resources and services necessary to meaningfully address challenges and ensure that all users of downtown are well-supported. This effort reflects both strong collaboration and a commitment to our center city, and is indicative of the pride and optimism we all feel for downtown's next chapter."

As downtown comes back to life after years of construction and post-pandemic renewal, Denver is creating a new dedicated downtown police unit that will provide increased services and greater visibility to build upon our progress. This 10-officer unit will patrol the area on foot, bicycles and motorcycles. In addition to this new dedicated unit:

• There will be 10 extra foot patrols each day to help deter incidents, respond quickly, and be a resource to the community.

• DPD's mounted horse patrol will be dedicated to downtown.

• A new DPD Downtown Kiosk at 16th and Arapahoe streets will serve as a hub for officers and give residents and visitors an easy way to get questions answered or report any issues quickly and safely.

Beyond the increased police presence downtown, Denver will invest in other proven safety support resources to maintain a feeling of safety, cleanliness and vibrancy, including:

• Five additional private security officers through the Downtown Denver Partnership.

• Three shifts of Park Ranger patrols downtown to maintain safety and vibrancy.

• Increased work by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure downtown to address infrastructure upgrades and cleanliness.

Denver has made significant progress in closing encampments and helping more than 2,400 individuals get off the streets and into housing over the past 18 months, and we will continue to build upon this progress by expanding outreach services downtown to connect people with high-quality support, including:

• Downtown mental health and substance use support team, including Roads to Recovery.

• Expanded Denver Fire Department medical unit presence to respond to medical crises.

• Denver Health bicycle paramedics and other quick-response vehicles present in downtown locations.

"Over the past year, city staff and myself as a Downtown have engaged with countless downtown residents, listening to their concerns and priorities," said Denver City Council President Amanda Sandoval. "Again and again, one message has been loud and clear: safety must come first. As City Council President and a member of the Downtown Development Authority Board, our board recognizes a thriving downtown starts with people feeling safe. That's why we fully support using DDA funds to expand safety patrols in the downtown core. These additional patrol hours will not only increase the presence of uniformed officers, but enhance public safety across the entire downtown area."

The city's Department of Safety and the Denver Police Department will fund the addition of the new dedicated downtown unit, and the Downtown Development Authority has approved funding for 10 extra patrol shifts per day within the downtown core for the next 12 months. This partnership with the DDA, to ensure visitors and residents alike feel safe coming downtown, lays the foundation for future DDA investments to be more successful.

Watch the full press conference here.

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