AURORA | The Aurora Police Department is teaming up with state and regional law enforcement agencies to address concerns — real or perceived — about the presence of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua also known as TdA.
With the influx of some 40,000 Venezuelan migrants into metro Denver in the last two years have come claims about gang activity by certain Aurora residents and officials.
Some, for example, allegedly exaggerated the level of violence and lawlessness at a meetup of 3,000 to 4,000 migrants at an Aurora shopping center on July 28. That was Election Day in Venezuela when opposition candidate Edmundo González was expected to trounce incumbent strongman Nicolás Maduro. Maduro later declared himself the winner of another six-year term.
Some city lawmakers and others attributed — without evidence — the city’s move to shut down Aspen Grove, a decaying apartment complex in north Aurora last week to the presence of TdA gang members, The allegations were discredited by city staffers who countered that the complex was shuttered because of code violations.
At least three council members have said they do not believe their own city staffers’ reasons for forcing tenants, many of whom are newcomers from Venezuela, out of the 98-unit building.
“None of us buy that story, that this is based on a code enforcement violation,” Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky said during an Aug. 8 city council public safety committee meeting, referring to herself and council members Stepahnie Hancock and Steve Sundberg. “The three of us believe there is a huge gang problem.”
Jurinsky said that despite not having proof of claims by the building’s owner that gang members had been squatting in the building, “our opinions are not up for debate.
Aurora police have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of TdA members in that building or elsewhere in the city, nor have they detailed what activities they may be responsible for.
“I don’t think Venezuelan gangs are a big safety concern in the city of Aurora,” Chris Juul, the acting deputy police chief told the Sentinel last week.
The Aurora Police Department is continuing to investigate a shooting near East 12th Avenue and Dallas Street late-Sunday, noting that, “At this time, there is no information to suggest that this incident is connected to the TdA organization or its members.”
Still, in response to what it calls “concerns heard at the local, state, and national level” about TdA activity in the city, Aurora Police Department released a carefully worded news release on Monday saying it is joining a regional effort to “target crime involving migrant communities.”
Working with the Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, metro area police departments and sheriff’s offices have formed a task force to “assist agencies throughout the region with their ongoing investigations with the goal of enhancing communications, sharing intelligence and maximizing investigative resources,” the announcement said.
“APD will not tolerate violent crime in our communities,” it noted. “We remind all community members, including members of our migrant communities, to report crimes committed against them to their local law enforcement agencies and not remain silent victims.”
Many right-wing citizens in Aurora have proudly stepped up to say “Be careful who you vote for next election”, as if it’s the left’s fault that there are 3 knuckleheads on our Council and a confused all-over-the-place Mayor.
Well, my confused friends, we’ll still work for common sense and decency for EVERYONE.
While you still vote for Council members who have no sense at all:
“Jurinsky said that despite not having proof of claims by the building’s owner that gang members had been squatting in the building, “our opinions are not up for debate.”
Yeah, I sure will be careful who I vote for.
I concur with Lemme Tell Ya. The issue is that council conservative opinions are always non-negotiable. It’s always “my way or the highway,” with Jurinsky and company. I want evidence! We’ve got an abundance of politicians who spew nonsense without the facts to back up their position!
LOL, we’re at stage one of the boilerplate lefty dialectic at this point:
1) “It’s not happening.”
2) “Ok, it’s happening, but it’s not that common and doesn’t affect you.”
3) “Yes, it’s happening, and that’s a good thing.”
You sound vaccinated.
not common sense folk bud
Will the task force meetings be streamed so gang members can stay fully informed? Yes, sarcasm.
Let’s stop worrying about messaging, the politics and the public’s perception and let our LE quietly focus on the crime. What purpose does publicly announcing this task force serve, exactly? It seems like the politicians can’t get out of the way here.
The correct response to the media should have been “We don’t comment on active investigations.” Publicly recognize the task force AFTER the gang leaders have been locked up.
You can already see the classic leftist story arc taking shape.
1. This is happening!
2. Okay, it’s happening, but it’s not a problem.
3. Okay, it’s gotten much worse, but this is actually a good thing!!
Actually, you’ve chosen to join the “alternate facts” bandwagon.
Regarding the massive gang takeover alleged narrative: Our side hasn’t even reached stage 1.
It’s kinda simple. ZERO evidence or statements from APD saying the property was overrun by Venezuelan gangs. Zero.
Guess who IS saying so? The slumlord and the Right-Wingers on Council who are so ignorant they actually admit in public that their “statements don’t need to be verified or substantiated”.
You, of course, blindly follow their lead, without facts of your own. Time to move to Florida, Texas or Douglas County.
LOL, Douglas County has nice neighborhoods and high-trust institutions. I realize your side hates such places because they don’t advance the communist revolution, but you throwing that out as a pejorative is an irony that blots out the sun.
When the seemingly majority of Douglas County is an Election Denier, Anti-Mask, Pro -Insurrectionist, anti- Climate Science and fears anyone with brown skin … yeah, I’ll keep the sun shining on their anti-American sentiments.
So much for Horse Sense….
BTW, I loved the parents that had their kids standing at intersections with MAGA signs during Trump’s last loss. When I asked the kids “what prompted you to stand out here in the rain?”. Response: Our parents inspired us.
” yeah, I’ll keep the sun shining on their anti-American sentiments.”
LOL, please. Your side doesn’t even like this country. In fact, it’s hated it for 100 years. It’s why you think it needs to be “disrupted, dismantled, and abolished,” while your allies chant “Death to America” on its streets.
“So much for Horse Sense….”
You’ve got the horse’s backside part down pat, at least.
“When I asked the kids “what prompted you to stand out here in the rain?”. Response: Our parents inspired us.”
Yes, we also know how your side hates stable families where the kids aren’t alienated from their parents. Probably why you try to encourage parents to eliminate them before they exit the womb.
“DENVER (KDVR) — Federal prosecutors announced four indictments in a violent Denver jewelry store heist that law enforcement has said was linked to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.”
Sorry to break it to you, but they’re here and it’s only going to get worse.
Cackling Kamala doesn’t care now & if her cheating cohorts get to run the White House they won’t do anything then. I feel sorry for any democratic state & city.
Moved to Douglas county, best decision of my life.