In Partnership with
the Denver Police Department
Community Bridge Cop Shop
35th Ave & York Street
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The
Community Bridge COP Shop is operated by citizen volunteers in
partnership
with the Denver Police Department.
The purpose of the COP Shop is to provide a convenient place
for citizens and local businesses to be able to file police reports
such as non injury auto accidents, thefts, drug activity, graffiti and
gang activities. We also furnish assistance to the public with other
city related matters such as zoning issues, neighborhood cleanup and
traffic problems.
The COP
Shop also serves as
a facility where Denver Police officers can complete their reports,
meet with the citizens and perform other police activities.
Open House
 
 
Community
Hopes to Take Back Neighborhoods in Northeast Denver
Mandy
and Donavon Paschall
Safety
and crime are pertinent issues for residents of northeast Denver.
Leaders with Metro Organizations for People (MOP) at Mount Calvary
Lutheran Church have been partnering with various community groups to
establish a cop shop to address these issues. A cop shop is a
volunteer run operation, and the volunteers are trained by and work
closely with the police department. The volunteers will be
prepared to handle police reports, take non-emergency calls, provide
referrals, distribute fliers on various crime and safety issues, and
provide other services. Police officers will frequent the cop
shop and offer crime and safety workshops on a regular basis. The
proposed cop shop will be called the “Community Bridge Cop Shop” as it
will be designed to provide a bridge between the community and the
police department. It will serve as a forum for northeast Denver
residents to express their concerns to the police department and create
solutions to address safety and crime issues. The cop shop will serve
residents from Clayton, Cole, Whittier, Elyria-Swansea, Globeville, and
Skyland.
On
December 14th, 2004, members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church’s
organizing committee hosted a community action meeting to receive
formal commitment from the Denver Police Department in the opening of
the Community Bridge Cop Shop at 3542 York St. Commander Rhonda
Jones was unable to attend the meeting, but Chief Cooper and other
officers were present to represent District 2. Chief Cooper read
a letter from Commander Jones voicing her support. She wrote, “I
also want to express my support for the community in development and
implementation of the Cop Shop. I know that this has been
discussed and attempted many times over the last few years. I am
committed to working with all of you to make sure that this vision is
realized; that we don’t succumb to obstacles this time.”
The
Denver Foundation also voiced their formal commitment for financial
support of the Community Bridge Cop Shop. The Cop Shop has
currently been awarded a $5000 Strengthening Neighborhoods
grant.
At
the December 14th meeting, many community residents shared testimonies
of their experience with home and auto theft and their fear of walking
neighborhood streets at night. Clayton resident Greg Johnson
stated, “I believe the cop shop is a powerful step in the right
direction to facilitating communication, decreasing crime, and
strengthening our neighborhood.”
A
successful cop shop requires a strong volunteer base and community
participation. If you are interested in receiving more information on
the Community Bridge Cop Shop or are interested in volunteering, please
contact Community Bridge Cop Shop at 303 297-3273
We are currently
seeking additional volunteers at the COP Shop. For further information
on volunteering, please click the "volunteer" button on the left side
of the page.
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