Pueblo police feel the heat from those they serve

Pueblo police Chief Luis Velez and other senior officers heard an earful of complaints from the public about other officers on the force.

Rev. Robert Lewis organized a meeting at Evan’s Heavens Barber Shop with Pueblo police and the public to address concerns, in an effort to build relations between the two.

Velez said all patrol officers are equipped with tasers and pepper spray. He added that of the 116,480 calls the department responded to in 2013, 38 citizen complaints were filed.

But many in the crowd of nearly 50 people said they’ve filed complaints with the department and have yet to hear back.

“I know there are people in this room that have submitted complaints that don’t get dealt with in the time frame that people in the community expect,” said Theresa Trujillo.

When a person files a complaint, he/she is contacted by the department after it’s been handled, which oftentimes can take months. Velez said at the meeting that he wants to change their response so that officers contact those who file complaints shortly after it’s been filed to acknowledge receipt of the complaint.

Others in the crowd said the department needs to work on building community relations.

“Instead of making kids afraid of police, learn how to be more involved with the community as police were meant to be from the beginning, instead of becoming enemies,” Dreena Gonzales said.

“Accept the fact that we look different than you. Accept the fact that some of us might be thugs but most of us are law-abiding citizens,” Margaret Redmond said.

Velez tried to pacify the crowd by reminding them that patrol officers will be wearing body cameras starting in January.

“For officers that may feel that they have to exert force, or be rude, or things of that nature, that’s how they act toward the public, now every one of their contacts is going to be on video,” Velez said.

But some, like Sandra Aveitia, are worried that those same officers have the ability to turn the cameras off.

“We’re just giving you guys more money to do something that you’re still going to be able to turn off the cameras and still harass,” Aveitia said.

By the end of the meeting, officers were doing more listening than talking, trying to take in years of pent-up frustration.

“If we start there, just recognizing that everybody is a human being valued by God, then we might be able to solve some of these problems,” Redmond said.

Lewis told the crowd he plans to organize another community meeting with Pueblo police. A date has not yet been set.