Partnering for a Safer Upper Downtown

At UpDoNA, our safety strategy centers on ongoing dialogue with Denver Police leadership. Each month, we participate in the District 6 Citizen’s Advisory Group (CAG) to stay informed, share neighborhood concerns, and strengthen our partnership with law enforcement. In addition, we have monthly conversations with Lieutenant Albi regarding statistics and specific incidents; Ryan Ertman, head of security for the Downtown Denver Partnership; and Armando Saldate, head of Denver’s Department of Safety, reporting to Mayor Johnston. Lisa Pope also serves on Denver’s Police Advisory Board and meets with Police leadership.

District 6 CAG: Connecting Neighbors and Police

In these meetings, residents and business leaders:

• Review the latest District 6 crime statistics
• Meet our District Commander and Community Resource Officers (CROs)
• Discuss emerging safety issues and local initiatives

Last month’s CAG featured special guests:

• Colorado State District Attorney John Walsh
• Assistant District Attorney Matt James, who prosecutes crimes in the Central Business District (CBD)

As an example, they highlighted a multi-agency approach to supporting individuals involved in low-level offenses:

• Differentiating between people stealing for basic needs versus organized retail theft rings
• Coordinating social services, mental-health referrals, and diversion programs for the former
• Leveraging social-media investigations and targeted enforcement for the latter

Central Business District Crime Trends (These statistics include areas served by  Upper Downtown  and Lower Downtown Neighborhood Associations)

May 2025 vs. May 2026

Highlights:

• Violent crime rose nearly 15%, driven by aggravated assaults and weapon-related threats around the 16th Street with most of the aggravated assaults occurring during out-crowding at LoDo Bars after 2:00am. Some are attributed to incidents at the county jail.
• Property crime fell just over 10%, led by drops in commercial burglaries and vehicle theft.
• Overall incidents decreased 6.3%, reflecting stronger prevention and community reporting efforts.

Auto Theft & Vehicle Break-Ins

• Auto theft down 33% in Upper Downtown through targeted gang-identification operations.
• Vehicle break-ins up 71%, often when valuables are left in plain sight.

Police urge everyone to:

• Secure or remove personal items from vehicles
• Park in well-lit, busy areas
• Report suspicious activity immedia

Assaults & In-Custody Incidents

• Reported assaults increased, but the majority were domestic or jail-related incidents.
• Community outreach is underway to support victims of domestic violence and improve jail-safety protocols.

Citywide Crime

Citywide, violent crime is down nearly 25% since 2024, property crime has fallen 10.8%, and homicides have dipped slightly. These improvements reflect enhanced coordination between our police, prosecutors, and community services.

District 6 Highlights

• Shootings dropped from 66 to 32 year-over-year (−51%)
• Robberies decreased by 20% in commercial corridors
• Aggravated assaults remain the top violent offense but are being addressed through targeted patrols

How You Can Join the Effort

• If you see an incident, report it using 311. Obviously for an emergency use 911. Resources are assigned based on 311 and 911 calls. Our Central Business District had the fewest 311 calls of any police district in the city. That would suggest that incidents are not being reported.
• Participate in Downtown Denver National Night Out (Tuesday, August 5 | 4:30 – 7 PM | Skyline Park Arapahoe and 16th Street

Together, we can turn statistics into action—building a more resilient, connected, and safer Downtown Denver.

Thumbnail attribution: Rob Squire