June 9, 2015
DENVER – The Denver Police Department announced this morning that it has officially changed its policy regarding officers shooting at moving vehicles.  Under the new policy, officers can no longer fire on a moving vehicle because they believe that the vehicle is being used as a weapon.  Officers are also instructed to use good judgment and stay out of the path of moving vehicles.
The ACLU of Colorado called for similar changes to the Department’s policy, as well as more effective training for officers, at a press conference held days after Denver police officers shot and killed 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez.
Today, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley issued the following statement:
“The ACLU of Colorado is encouraged that the Denver Police Department will follow the trend of departments throughout the country and no longer allow its officers to consider a vehicle as a weapon in order to justify firing on the driver.  Safety and common sense dictate that officers should get out of the way of a moving vehicle rather than using potentially deadly force on the occupants.  As the new policy correctly states, ‘shooting at moving vehicles is dangerous because it rarely stops a vehicle and disabling a driver creates an out-of-control car that is also a danger.’

“It is unfortunate that it took four officer-involved shootings at moving vehicles in less than a year, including the killing of unarmed 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez, for the Denver Police Department to finally make this change.  It is imperative, in order to prevent more unnecessary deaths and injuries, that every officer is fully trained and held accountable to the new directives of this policy.”

June 5, 2015
Statement of ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley:

“In what has become a disturbingly predictable pattern, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has once again refused to bring charges against Denver law enforcement officers following a police-involved killing, in this case the January 26th shooting of 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez.
“Beyond the obvious questions about conflict of interest, it is impossible to trust the objectivity of Mr. Morrissey, given that he has not filed a single indictment following an officer-involved shooting during his tenure as District Attorney.
“In 2011, the ACLU of Colorado called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Denver Police Department’s ‘pattern and practice’ of using excessive force and violating the civil rights of Denver residents.  We once again renew that call today.
“A full independent review is necessary, now more than ever, as the community has lost its faith in Denver’s ability to hold police accountable in use-of-force cases.”