Three recently graduated Denver police officers were dismissed last month after officials discovered they had made inappropriate comments in a group chat, joking about “going to newcomer shelters for target practice,” according to a statement released by the police department on Thursday.
The offensive messages were exchanged on March 27, 2024, during a time when Denver was still operating shelters to accommodate migrants from Venezuela and other countries who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. The city has referred to these individuals as newcomers. The significant influx of migrants since 2023 has put considerable pressure on the city’s resources, leading to a shift towards providing primarily short-term rental assistance along with support services.
“The Denver Police Department is appalled by the nature of these messages, which are entirely inconsistent with the mission and values of the department. These remarks show a profound disrespect not only towards the newcomers and our community but also towards every officer dedicated to ensuring the safety of our city,” the department stated.
The department became aware of the messages on April 4 and conducted an “extensive investigation” that led to the officers’ termination on July 22. The officers, who were still in their probationary period after recently graduating from the police academy, were removed from their positions.
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The group chat, which included fellow members of the officers’ academy class, has prompted the department to mandate additional training focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as on intervening to prevent misconduct by fellow officers.
