Mayor of Denver: Police can no longer take tents, blankets from the homeless during winter



DENVER, Colorado -- The mayor of Denver, Colorado announced Saturday, December 10th he's adjusting the enforcement of Denver's "unauthorized camping ordinance" this winter. Mayor Michael Hancock said police should not take camping equipment, such as tents and blankets from the homeless, KDVR is reporting.

 

“Every step we take is intended to connect people with safe and warm places and critical supportive services. We never intended to take the belongings that people need to keep warm. Therefore, I have directed Denver police to cease taking camping equipment, like tents and blankets, when enforcing the unauthorized camping ordinance through the end of April," Mayor Hancock said.

This, after the ACLU sent a letter to Denver police and Mayor Hancock asking them to stop taking blankets from homeless people.

Video surfaced online of police taking the items from individuals when temperatures were below freezing.



“It is not an inherent crime to sleep outside, and many people right now have no other viable option. Denver’s shelters are simply unable to serve all people in the Denver area experiencing homelessness," ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley said in the letter. “Until real solutions become Denver’s priority, the city’s ongoing policing-first approach to homelessness is a cruel waste of funds, curtailing fundamental constitutional rights, causing deep human suffering, and endangering lives."