Denver admits crime out of control in DT - creates weak safety plan to bring people back

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston on Wednesday announced the creation of a new police unit focused on downtown safety, a move that another official said would yield "significant changes in the crime map" for the corridor within a year and encourage people to come back.

Joined by Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas and other city officials on the 16th Street Mall, Johnston said the success of the city depends on the success of downtown.

“Downtown Denver is not just the backbone of Denver’s economy, but it's the cultural and civic heart of the Mountain West," Johnston said in a news release. “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."