Pueblo County DA makes push for more police to City Council

The Pueblo County District Attorney is pushing for more police officers following the shooting death of a 26-year-old in February.

The first announcement came after Devin Clark was gunned down outside a downtown bar on Feb. 28.

Pueblo County District Attorney Jeff Chostner is demanding the city do more to combat the cycle of violence. He wants Pueblo City Council to create a ballot question for a half-cent sales tax specifically to hire more officers for the Police Department. He’s made his presentation to the council Monday night.

Chostner says the tax would generate more than $7 million, which he says would be enough to hire 30-50 more officers.

The DA previously said City Council needs to switch its focus to public safety.

“You have to have a safe community before the rest of the amenities come forward,” he said.

Pueblo City Council President Steve Nawrocki said public safety is the main priority for the city, but so are roads and infrastructure.

City Council wants to put a ballot measure together for a half-cent sales tax that would cover public safety, the city’s infrastructure and other city needs.

“If you don’t take care of your community, it becomes a habitat for more crime and violence,” he said.

Nawrocki also said hiring more officers isn’t going to stop every act of senseless violence.

Chostner said he understands that issue, but he feels more officers on the street can show that Pueblo doesn’t tolerate crime.

“I think the message can be sent that you will be caught and you will prosecuted,” he said.

Chostner’s measure has the support of Tyler Clark, Devin Clark’s brother.

“I’m not doing OK, I’m getting by. We’re coping, taking it one day at a time, Clark said.

He said he wanted some hope from the council about progress moving forward.

“City Council kept saying to us they noticed the problems. They’ve talked about it before,” Clark said. “Well if you guys have talked about it before, give us some sort of hope.”

Former Pueblo County Sheriff Dan Corsentino said he’d support Chostner’s ballot measure, saying it’s the best solution to helping fight high crime rates.

Earlier this year, a survey conducted by the local police union found nearly 100 percent of its officers had little confidence in their chief. Survey participants said Velez had not done a good job trying to hire people to fill vacancies or push the city to allow him to hire more officers.

At a City Council meeting in early February, Velez said he’s pushed to hire more officers for years and will continue to do so.

Corsentino said high crime rates don’t have anything to do with Velez’ leadership.

“I think Chief Velez has been very progressive in many ways in the Pueblo Police Department. He’s on track for accomplishing the goals laid out for him,” said Corsentino.

While Chostner is now the one advocating for this ballot initiative, Corsentino said it doesn’t matter who spearheads the campaign.

“It doesn’t really matter who is taking the football up the field. The point is, we are going to get it across the goal line. I think it’s a team effort between the sheriff, the police chief and the district attorney,” said Corsentino.

City Council has already pledged to add 20 more officers by the end of this year.