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$650,000 Price Tag To Increase Patrols Along 16th Street Mall

By Lauren DiSpirito

DENVER (CBS4) - Police in Denver will spend more than a half million dollars to increase police patrols and add resources along the 16th Street Mall in hopes of improving security to help people feel safe.

The City of Denver will spend $650,000 as part of the plan to address recent violence on the mall. The additional security measures were agreed upon by Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Denver Police Department.

"We owe it to everyone who goes up and down this mall or walks any inch of this city to make sure it's safe," said Hancock.

16TH STREET MALL VIOLENCE
(credit: CBS)

Referring to the people causing problems as "urban travelers" and "hoodlums," Hancock unveiled a strategy that includes an additional commitment of city resources, despite dipping into contingency funds to do so last year. He says he was "sickened" by a recording of a recent assault captured on video, and of another fight that sent three people to the hospital.

"This is not who we are," said Hancock.

The plan includes assigning additional officers to patrol the mall full time. Denver Police Chief Robert White says he'll increase the number of patrol officers on the mall from 2 to 5 daily to 16 plain-clothed and uniformed officers, in two eight-officer shifts.

16TH STREET MALL VIOLENCE  (3)
(credit: CBS)

White says the officers will patrol the mall with a "litany" of approaches, including on foot, in vehicles, on Segways, and on bikes. They'll focus on making sure people aren't blocking sidewalks. Officers will also work with prosecutors in an effort to keep aggressive panhandlers off the mall.

White says the additional officers will remain on the mall through summer, at which time his department will re-evaluate needs.

The city plans to close six alleys as part of a pilot program, and seek area restrictions to keep offenders from returning to the area.

"We will not, and I want to be very clear about this, we will not tolerate those who have no other intention than to harass people along the mall, commit threatening acts or make experiences along our mall unpleasant," said Hancock.

The Downtown Denver Partnership has a plan in place that will improve lighting along the mall this summer.

Lauren DiSpirito is CBS4's Northern Newsroom reporter. Follow her on Twitter @CBS4Lauren. Share your story ideas with her here.

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