The law enforcement veteran explains why Denver continues to tie the hands of its officers with the inability to perform such stops.
Many states initiate low-level traffic stops for a number of reasons, such as a broken taillight, window tint or expired tags. But they can sometimes expose bigger problems, like a recent stop in New York that may have revealed a potential agent with the terrorist group ISIS.
And yet, some states, like Denver, don’t allow for such stops. The Denver Police Department deemed earlier this summer that, with the new directive, such stops could endanger the citizens of the city and metro area.
How so exactly? As we mentioned above, such stops not only allow the police to address non-threatening violations, but to also check and see why such conditions exist – especially the need for window tinting.
The Denver ops manual notes, according to Law Enforcement Today, “Low-level traffic stops (minor traffic infractions that do not pose an immediate threat to public safety) will not be conducted unless officers are acting upon articulable information in addition to the traffic violation, which may or may not amount to reasonable suspicion…”
But with traffic duty, it’s not always easy to have that “articulate information.” And by that point, potential criminals may be slipping away.
Is the lack of low-level traffic stops in Denver really that big a deal? Joining us now to discuss this further is Michael Letts, a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience under his belt.
Letts is President, Founder and CEO of InVest USA, an organization that provides bulletproof vests to police officers through various programs. His expertise in all things law and order make him a great guest on this subject!
Q&A:
- Why does Denver seem to limit its own police department so much when it comes to its particular set of rules?
- What is the importance of low-level traffic stops? Don’t they serve as a convenience to someone that needs to renew their tags or fix a broken tail light?
- Why do you think consumers like to use tinted windows? Are we seeing them more commonly now than we have before?
- Could doing away with low-level traffic stops actually serve as a bigger danger to the public than conducting them?
- Considering how crime has increased in Denver over the past few years (downtown in particular has become a shambles), shouldn’t the Police Department take better care of its officers?
- Tell us more about InVest USA, and why support for fellow officers is so important right now.
- Where can we learn more about InVest USA, and how those interested can help their fellow officers.
- You can visit our official InVest USA website, and learn more on the official Invest USA Twitter account. You can also learn about my new initiative at RestoringJustice.US, where we discuss lawful issues surrounding citizens of the United States.
About Michael Letts:
Michael Letts is the Founder, President, and CEO of InVest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience under his belt, hence his pro-police stance for his brothers and sisters in blue. Those interested in learning more about Letts can visit his official website here.
Interview Demos and Articles on Michael Letts of InVest USA
Fox Business News/ Ground Zero First Responder Michael Letts reflects on 9/11 attacks nearly 20 years later: https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6271838161001
The Pro-American Report with Ed Martin interview with Michael Letts on The State of Law Enforcement https://soundcloud.com/pseagles/michael-letts-the-state-of-law-enforcement-december-15-2023-proamericareport
Albany Herald article “Cops are human, too” by Michael Letts: https://www.albanyherald.com/opinion/michael-letts-cops-are-human-too/article_3c63cb3a-7952-11ec-9672-3f6263ea4338.html
Tipping Point w. Kara McKinney/ One America News – Michael Letts – Criminals Abound https://rumble.com/vw37so-tipping-point-michael-letts-criminals-abound.html
News Herald: FBI boss just warned of a ‘dangerous’ terrorist threat, so why isn’t he doing anything?
https://www.thenewsherald.com/2023/11/13/fbi-boss-just-warned-of-a-dangerous-terrorist-threat-so-why-isnt-he-doing-anything/
About Michael Letts: https://michaelletts.us/
About InVest USA: https://investusa.org
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at jerry@specialguests.com.
