Denver’s Burglars in Blue Were Real
In A DREAM IN THE DARK I draw upon a dark time in the history of the Denver Police Department.
In the early 1960s, over fifty Denver police officers were arrested and sentenced to prison for participating in a large-scale burglary ring. They scouted their victims while on duty and broke into the businesses at night while other officers provided lookout, communicating with each other via their police radios. The same officers investigated the crimes. The racket was finally exposed when a stolen safe tumbled out of a getaway car and onto the street in front of a police officer who was not involved in the racket.
The year 1961 was labeled “the year of shame” for the Denver police, as it was heralded as the most corrupt department in America. Besides burglarizing businesses, the officers regularly rolled drunks and people living on the streets for their Social Security and veterans benefits. Even worse, these officers appeared to delight in delivering “street justice.” It was not unusual for these public servants, sworn to serve and protect, to administer physical punishment as they saw fit; being stopped for petty theft could result in every cop on duty having the opportunity to take a swing at you.
