WHY TOCA

Police are overtasked, and some communities are over-policed. We can make a better Denver together.

911 has been the only tool given to us when it comes to public safety. As a result, Police are expected to respond to emergencies, crime, and more. In addition, we see the long-term negative impacts on over-policed communities. Community-based violence Interventions are long-standing, proven methods to build a better, safer Denver for us all. We are here to create long-term solutions, one neighborhood at a time.

Police Are Over-Tasked

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  • pie graph showing 62.6%

    National Data

    The VERA Institute analyzed nine city’s 911 calls and found an average of 62.6% of calls involved non criminal situations.¹

  • Pie graph showing <3%

    Community Intervention

    Of over 15.6 Million 911 calls analyzed less than 3% involved a violent crime.¹ 

  • Pie Graph Showing 74%

    Community Power-Building

    In 2024, of 28,000 people surveyed after calling 911 in Denver 74% said their call was for a non-Emergency.²

Public Safety is one of Denver’s Largest Expenses

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$120,000,000

According to Denver’s 2024 Checkbook we spent a $120M on Public Safety, over $75M from our General Fund (Taxpayer Money).³

Over-Policing Costs Our Communities

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Studies show a direct impact on communities health, economic security, community cohesiveness, and education achievement.⁴

Health Costs

Studies show PTSD-related symptoms and increased stress in Black Students who have been involved in police stops.

Mothers reported sleep problems due to depression and anxiety after their children were stopped by police.

Worse overall health outcomes are identified in neighborhoods that have a higher likelihood of being stopped and frisked by police.⁴

Community Costs

Negative encounters with law-enforcement lead to self-isolation and lower social interactions.

Law enforcement performing routine traffic stops and arrests for misdemeanor offenses result in declining trust in our social and civic institutions.

People with an arrest are less likely to participate in civic engagement, like voting.⁴

Economic Costs

An arrest without conviction still leads to lower employment prospects and job callbacks. 

There is a 53% reduction in assets for those who are arrested between the ages of 25 - 30.

There is a 16% higher rate of unemployment a decade after being arrested between the ages of  21 - 23.⁴

Educational Costs

Police contact has been linked to lower graduation and college enrollment rates.

Stop-and-frisk policies were linked to one-fifth of the standardized test gap between Black and white students and accounted for 1.35 missed school days for Black boys. 

From 2002 - 2016 almost 2,000 Black and Latine students left LA area schools before graduating due to local police killings.⁴

Community-Based Violence Interventions (CVI) Work

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“Community violence intervention or CVI has proven to be a humane, evidence-based alternative to over-policing and mass incarceration.”

— The Promise of Community Violence Intervention: Notes and Advice—from the Field

  • pie graph showing 30%

    Cities invested in Cure Violence, a community based CVI program saw shootings and killing drop by 30%.⁵

  • Up to $41 saved per $1 spent

    For every $1 spent on Advance Peace, Sacramento saved between $18 and $41 across emergency response, health care, and law enforcement, as well as other parts of the criminal legal system.⁵

TOCA’s Community Navigator Violence Prevention Planning Program

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TOCA is establishing a Community Navigator program that will work with neighborhoods across the city to identify community safety needs, establish trustworthy relationships, and create community-centered strategies for public safety without over-relying on law enforcement.

6 Elements to Successful Intervention and Prevention Strategies⁶

  1. Focus on High-Risk People and Places 

  2. Implement Evidence-Based Strategies 

  3. Provide Robust State-Level Coordination 

  4. Conduct Regular Program Evaluations 

  5. Commit to Long-Term, Stable Funding 

  6. Facilitate Community Input and Engagement

We will accomplish this through:

  • Community Navigators will meet with active RNOs, PTA/PTOs, Community organizations, and Faith leaders to develop a cohort to identify community needs around public safety.

  • Community Navigators will form a collective working group of impacted community members. The cohort will explore community-centered public safety solutions. 

  • Community Navigators will hold regular community listening sessions, training sessions, healing sessions, and continuous community outreach to foster trust.

  • Community Navigators will connect neighbors with pieces of training, organizations, and advocacy tools to help implement their plans.

Interested in the Community Navigator Program for your neighborhood?

Community-Led Funding is Essential

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When our money is funneled through government systems, we pay for the bureaucracy, leaving limited funds for the cities’ partners. When money goes directly to leaders trusted by the community, we see a more direct impact on those who need it most.

Trusted Leaders > 75% - 90% Goes Back To Community Led Organizations
Vs.

Join Us!

Denver Budget Working Group

Meets monthly to look at city budget practices, identify how they can better serve community safety, and bring education and advocacy steps to our supporters. 

Non-Profit Ecosystem Working Group

Meets monthly to provide a support tool to nonprofits to identify areas of strength and opportunities and connect them with services and trainings to better meet their mission

Empowering Our Communities

  • Community Resources

    Connect with the organizations helping Denverites thrive.

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  • Reports & Data

    Research our extensive database of public safety data and reports.

    Learn More

  • Community Events

    Join the community building happening all over the city.

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