Some Denver Officials Want to Allow Non-Citizens to Serve as Police

Some Denver City Council members want to change the city's charter to make it possible for non-citizens to serve as police officers and firefighters.

Right now, Denver’s city charter requires anyone applying to become a police officer or firefighter to be a U.S. citizen. Denver City Council President Jamie Torres, who represents District 3, says that limits the pool of applicants.

Torres and Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval are developing a proposal that, if approved by voters, would change the city charter, allowing applicants without U.S. citizenship to serve as police officers and firefighters. Torres said this would include Dreamers or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, who were brought to the U.S. as children.

Torres said newly arrived migrants would not be eligible to be hired as police officers or firefighters in Denver.

Torres said they would also have to possess a high school diploma or GED and pass a series of background checks to be hired. Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said he supports allowing non-citizens to serve as police officers.