Colorado Governor Jared Polis touts dropping crime rates

(The Center Square) - Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Public Safety recently announced that the state's crime rates are dropping in several categories.

“Every Coloradan deserves the opportunity to live in a safe and healthy community," Polis said in a statement. "By cracking down on crime and giving law enforcement and community organizations the support needed to protect our communities, we are helping keep people, property, and our communities safer across Colorado, but there is more hard work ahead to achieve our goal of making Colorado one of the ten safest states. We thank Colorado’s public safety professionals for their hard work in these shared efforts."

New FBI data revealed that violent crimes in Colorado dropped 15% from the second quarter of 2023 to the second quarter of 2024, while murders were down 27%, non-consensual sexual offenses declined 15%, robberies decreased by 16%, and the state saw a 15% decrease in aggravated assault.

Meanwhile, Colorado saw a 25% decrease in property crimes, including a 33% drop in motor vehicle theft, a 23% reduction in burglaries, and a 23% decline in larceny.

"Governor Polis has built on his commitment to make Colorado one of the Top Ten Safest States, signing bills into law to crack down on auto theft, protect Coloradans from gun violence, and provide grants to community-based organizations focused on proven crime prevention strategies to ensure our communities are safe," the release said. "Under Governor Polis almost every category of crime decreased in 2023, including auto theft and violent crimes. For example, in Denver alone, catalytic converter theft is down 95% compared to the prior year. This follows state and local legislative action to crack down on the crime."

Polis signed SB24-003 into law. It took effect on August 7, 2024 cracking down on illegal firearm activity. Since then, it has helped the Colorado Bureau of Investigation seize 40 illegal firearms and make about 30 arrests regarding illegal firearm sales and carry.

Here is what CBI has obtained since the law took effect, the release said:

21 Instacheck Referrals30 Arrests For Illegal Firearm Possession42 Total Illegal Firearms Seized (21 stolen)23 Handguns16 Long Guns3 Ghost Guns or Privately Made Firearms2 straw purchases or purchases an individual makes with the intent of illegally giving or selling to someone else1 Magazine Violation