Community Input - Denver Police Museum

As an independent nonprofit organization, we are seeking feedback from community members about law enforcement in Denver broadly, solutions to improving community relations, and input on what role the Denver Police Museum could play to improve trust and understanding between law enforcement and our community.

We are also seeking ideas and feedback on a proposed series of programs aimed at youth ages 11- to 12-years-old that will provide unique educational opportunities, including:

Drugs: Youth will hear directly from recovering addicts who the Museum has built positive relationships with as they share their stories about drug use, the affect it had on their lives, and how they overcame their addictions. Through hands-on activities, youth will discover healthy alternatives to drug use while gaining the confidence to address peer pressure. They will learn how to recognize current and popular drugs, as well as users of drugs and how to safely and properly advocate for and/or seek help.
Gangs: Youth will learn about the structures and purposes of gangs. Through role-playing exercises, youth will learn how to recognize gang recruitment and the deception and manipulation tactics used to convince youth that they should join. The educators will encourage youth to maintain healthy relationships at home in order to prevent association within a gang. Youth will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from former gang-members as they share their stories and the impact it had on their lives.
Online Safety: Youth will learn tips for safely engaging online, including using social media. Educators and interactive exhibits will help families learn how to regulate and monitor social media and online usage and the importance of mental wellness in a digital world. Youth will learn how to recognize negative behaviors and red flags including bullying, stalking, and sexual predators while also learning how to ask for and seek help.
Healthy Relationships: Through a series of virtual scenarios between friends and family members that will provoke powerful discussions about healthy and unhealthy ways to deal with interpersonal conflict. Youth will learn how to recognize the red flags of unsafe situations, how to deal with conflict in a positive way, and how to get help for themselves and others when it’s needed.
Youth Leadership: The youth leadership program will provide an opportunity for law enforcement professionals to connect with, teach, and inspire future community leaders. Law enforcement officers play a vital role in encouraging youth to become positive role models, enabling them to realize their full potential to lead and become better citizens. The program will reinforce youth and police working together, sharing responsibilities, and creating partnerships; and create an opportunity for youth to build relationships with police in a positive, non-threatening environment.
Forensic Science Lab: Through fun and interactive hands-on exhibits, youth will participate in STEM learning in the Museum’s “crime lab” through age-approriate activities such as fingerprint analysis, ballistics, maggots, blood spatter analysis, and more.

The Museum is working diligently to gather and generate ideas for how Denver might strengthen community relations in a unique way that will make us a national leader. As a part of these efforts, we are looking for a diverse range of ideas on how to move forward and develop a plan that is Denver-centric. Our aim is to share these ideas with a broad base of community and civic leaders.

If you would like to share your ideas or feedback with us, please fill out the below form: