Denver officers fired for joking about using migrants as target practice

DENVER ( NewsNation ) —Three Denver police officers were fired last month after officials found they had joked about “going to newcomer shelters for target practice” in a group chat with fellow officers, police said Thursday.

The messages were shared on March 27, when Denver still operated shelters to house migrants from Venezuela and other countries who crossed the U.S. border with Mexico, whom the city has referred to as newcomers. An influx of migrants since 2023 has strained the city’s resources, and the city has switched to largely offering short-term rental assistance with support services instead.

The termination of officers Rodrigo Basurto, Meagan Joy and Scot Persichette. was not announced as part of the Denver Police Department’s monthly disciplinary letters, according to NewsNation affiliate KDVR in Denver. Instead, the terminations were posted to the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training database.Rodrigo Basurto, Meagan Joy and Scot Persichette.

“The Denver Police Department is appalled by the subject of the messages, which are contradictory to the mission and values of the Department, and disrespect not only newcomers and our community but also every other officer working to keep everyone in our community safe,” the department said in a statement.

The agency said it is providing additional equity, diversity and inclusivity training, in addition to active bystandership for law enforcement training to other officers who were in the group chat.

NewsNation affiliate KDVR in Denver contributed to this report.

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