Aurora won't send 300 cops to help Denver provide security at the Democratic National Convention unless Denver picks up the tab for liability and worker's compensation, Aurora officials said Wednesday.
Denver plans to contract with as many as 30 law enforcement agencies - including Aurora, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, Littleton and Westminster - for extra security at the DNC.
But Aurora City Attorney Charlie Richardson said Denver is dragging its feet in reaching agreements with them and could fall short of the 4,000 to 5,000 law enforcement officers it will need.
"Denver has so far been unwilling to spend city funds to support or provide for the needs of outside law enforcement services," he said.
The Aug. 25-28 event is expected to draw thousands of protesters, some of whom have promised to defy the law.
Richardson said he will recommend to the City Council next month that Aurora withhold its 300 officers, roughly 50 percent of its force, if Denver remains unwilling to shield Aurora from a potential raft of civil rights lawsuits and injuries to its cops.
Denver has different take
"Based on national experience with large events of this nature, you see civil rights lawsuits and worker's compensation claims by officers who are injured," Richardson said.
But Denver disputes that it is unwilling to cover all security costs.
"The issue is not whether we will provide liability and worker's comp. The issue is how we fund that liability and worker's comp," said Katherine Archuleta, senior adviser to the mayor.
Denver is still in discussions with Aurora and numerous cities and counties, trying to work out a number of critical issues, including worker's compensation and liability coverage, she said.
In the past three days, Denver has had a number of conversations with the U.S. Secret Service and Department of Justice to determine how those costs will be funded, Archuleta said.
Denver has received a $50 million federal grant to cover DNC security costs, but until this week it's been locked up in a congressional committee, she said.
Denver City Attorney David Fine said how much the city compensates other cities for security help, including Aurora, is still being hammered out.
'It's quite complicated'
"We are working very hard both internally and with other agencies, particularly Aurora, to work through these issues," Fine said. "Unfortunately it's quite complicated, so it's taking some time."
Aurora is not alone in its demand that Denver buffer it from lawsuits and other liabilities.
Lt. Skip Arms, spokesman for the Colorado Springs Police Department, said it's safe to assume conversations are taking place surrounding those issues, as well as overtime pay and housing.
"Unlike Aurora, our officers don't live 15 to 20 minutes away . . . We have to decide if people will stay up there or commute, and that will impact our costs."
Negotiations take time because agreements with neighboring cities and counties must be approved by their city councils and county commissioners.
"Denver may say we need x, y, z, and we'll have to go to council to see if the city has the resources," said Lt. Sean Dugan, Littleton police spokesman.
Aurora and Colorado Springs have long told Denver they would provide police assistance for the DNC provided it comes at no costs to those cities.
Lakewood, Westminster and Douglas County officials say it's premature to assume Denver won't cover all costs. Lakewood plans to help Denver no matter how the funding shakes out.