To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Tyler Brown, Sheriff
Prepared By:
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Kevin Heaton, Captain, Patrol Services
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Subject:
title
IGA Aurora Police Department Nine Mile Station
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Sheriff’s Office requests the Board of County Commissioners approve and authorize the Chair to sign the IGA authorizing the City of Aurora to have law enforcement authority at Nine Mile Station.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Increase collaboration to break down silos and maximize resources.
Background and Discussion: The Designated Enforcement Area, geographically located on the northwest corner of Interstate-225 and South Parker Road, is commonly known as Nine Mile Station. The purpose of this Agreement is to establish and clarify authority of Aurora PD to engage in Proactive Law Enforcement Activities and enforce laws of the State of Colorado within the Designated Enforcement Area.
The Designated Enforcement Area presents a unique jurisdictional environment where the boundaries of five separate governmental jurisdictions converge. While the parking structure is located within the City of Aurora, the light rail platform is in Unincorporated Arapahoe County, and the area directly west is in the City and County of Denver. This complex jurisdictional configuration has historically limited the Aurora PD's ability to exercise its full law enforcement authority within an area that has experienced persistent criminal activity. Although the Aurora PD routinely responds to incidents in and around this location, the jurisdictional boundaries have inhibited their ability to engage in proactive law enforcement efforts and provide comprehensive enforcement services.
This Agreement is intended to eliminate those operational limitations by authorizing the Aurora PD to conduct Proactive Law Enforcement Activities and exercise full enforcement authority within the Designated Enforcement Area, thereby enhancing public safety, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring a coordinated law enforcement presence.
Alternatives: The Board of County Commissioners could deny this request, prohibiting Aurora PD from taking proactive steps to address criminal activity they observe from the parking structure which occurs on the light rail platform, impeding law enforcement efforts in a high-crime area. Aurora PD would continue to proactively patrol the parking structure.
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact to the County by approving this IGA. The IGA would financially benefit the Sheriff’s Office by authorizing the City of Aurora to enforce laws, eliminating the need for deputies to respond and handle calls for service.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: The attached framework helps Arapahoe County institutionalize values-based, transparent decision-making, documenting how we make decisions and carry out actions to achieve the county’s strategic plan.
Concurrence: The County Attorney’s Office and City of Aurora are in support of this proposal.