Fast Cars & Furious Neighbors

In recent weeks there has been a growing call to stop the illegal street racing taking place weekly along 56th Ave. between Peoria St. and Quebec St., bordering several Central Park Districts, including but not limited to District 11, The North End, and District 10, Beeler Park. Thankfully, a number of neighbors have taken the initiative to contact the police, who are highly aware of the problem, and working diligently to solve it.

The following message describes the steps taken by local law enforcement to address the ongoing issue, as well as proactive action taken by local business owners in the warehouse district along 56th Ave. to curb the speeding and violence that so often accompanies it. So, please read on and discover opportunities for neighborhood activism, from attending police meetings to actively engaging in neighborhood watch.

Police Contact

Speaking with Sergeant Dunn of the Denver Police Department (DPD) earlier this week, I learned that thanks, in part, to the high number of calls by local residents, there is an effort underway by local police to contact the owners of the warehouses that line 56th Ave., requesting they to install “no trespassing” signage, which facilitates the arrest of suspects, including bystanders, and the impounding of their vehicles.

Sgt. Dunn explained Central Park lies within the City of Denver’s fifth district, and that a task force exists to confront the threat posed by high speed street racing, and the often-violent subculture that surrounds it. He also noted that local warehouse owners have been quick to adopt the requested signage, for illicit gatherings taking place in their parking lots have caused tens of thousands worth of damage in recent months.

Commander’s Meeting

In concluding, Sgt. Dunn said he would put me in touch with Kiarra C. Jenkins, DPD Police Officer 1st Grade, a Community Resource Officer for our area. Within an hour of speaking with Sgt. Dunn, Officer Jenkins emailed me a number of links, including one for a forthcoming Commander’s Meeting, which everyone in Central Park is encouraged to join via Microsoft Teams (Video Conference) on Thursday, January 21st from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Officer Jenkins also invited community members to join the local Neighborhood Watch Meeting, taking place on Thursday, February 4th from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM via Microsoft Teams (Video Conference). As both Sgt. Dunn and Officer Jenkins stressed, volunteer activism is crucial in addressing crimes of opportunity, and are happy to give local residents the tools they need to effectively identify suspicious individuals without erroneously profiling innocent ones.

District 5 Designated Traffic Officer

District 5 recently added a designated Traffic Officer, D. Pollard, who will be enforcing speeding and other traffic related concerns in the neighborhood, including traffic accidents. If you have any areas of concern and or questions related to traffic, e.g., speeding, running stop signs, oversized vehicle, loud vehicles, etc., please email Officer Pollard at derek.pollard@denvergov.org, or call (720) 656-5804, thank you.