>> PATTY: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO COLORADO INSIDE OUT, PBS12'S WEEKLY ROUNDTABLE THAT LOOKS AT EVENTS IN DENVER AND FURTHER FIELD.

I'M PATTYU CALHOUN, THE EDITOR OF WESTWORD, MOVING OVER FROM MY USUAL CHAIR TO GUEST-HOST THE SHOW.

WE HAVE A LOT TO UNPACK TODAY.

TOPIC 1: IN THE WAKE OF MASS SHOOTINGS AROUND THE NATION, CONVERSATIONS IN COLORADO -- SITE OF THE COLUMBINE, AURORA THEATER AND KING SOOPERS SHOOTINGS -- ARE TAKING AIM AT WAYS TO PREVENT FUTURE TRAGEDIES, INCLUDING GUN BUYBACKS, AND EXTRA SECURITY IN SCHOOLS AND SUPERMARKETS.

MEANWHILE, JUST AS IT CAME TO DENVER AFTER COLUMBINE, THE NRA OPENS ITS CONVENTION IN TEXAS TODAY.

JOINING US AT OUR PANEL ERIK SONDERMIND, IN THE DENVER IS THAT, THERE IS A LOT TO DISCUSS ON THIS.

WHAT GRABS YOU?

>> A LOT GRABS ME BY WAY OF PREFACE I SAW LAST WEEK SHOW WHICH WAS ALL-FEMALE IT'S NICE TO BE THE TOKEN MALE ON THE PANEL TODAY TO REPRESENT THAT VOICE WHICH HAS BEEN SO UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUR SOCIETY.

LEVITY IS I, WE ARE DEALING WITH SERIOUSLY STUFF I THINK THE SHOOTING IN TEXAS WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT WILL STICK WITH YOU ARE YOU WERE WHEN YOU HEARD THAT NEWS, IT WAS SO CATASTROPHIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, THESE INSTANCES THESE DAYS DON'T STANDBY THEMSELVES, ONE ROLES INTO ANOTHER WE HAD A SCARE YESTERDAY IN DENVER IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING BUT AT THE TIME YOU DIDNOT KNOW IT WAS NOTHING.

I DON'T KNOW THERE IS A TOTAL ANSWER.

THERE ARE 100 MILLION FIREARMS OR MORE IN CIRCULATION AROUND THIS COUNTRY.

YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET RID OF THOSE OVERNIGHT.

TO MY THINKING, YOU COULD AT LEAST MAKE IT AS HARD TO OPERATE A FIREARM AS IT IS TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE.

I KNOW THAT'S A MEME GOING AROUND THE INTERNET BUT IT'S RIGHT.

YOU HAVE BASIC LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS AND BASIC CHECK ON YOU TO DRIVE A CAR DOWN THE ROAD.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT'S EASIER THAN THAT TO DO SOMETHING AS LETHAL AS POSSESS A FIREARM.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ONE EASY SOLUTION, THIS IS NOT GOING TO GO AWAY TOMORROW.

IS IT A SIGN, PATTY OF OUR BROKEN POLITICS AND EVERYONE RUNS TO THEIR CORNERS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS?

UNTIL WE FIX OUR POLITICS WE WILL SEE MORE INSTANCES LIKE THIS IN THE NOTION TO COME TO ANY KIND OF COMMON SENSE SOLUTION ARE MOVING THE GOALPOST IN A LITTLE BIT FOR ARDENT ADVOCATES ON BOTH SIDES THAT WILL BE ELUSIVE >> CHRISTIE, YOU WERE HERE THROUGH THE COLORADO TRAGEDY.

WHERE DO YOU SEE POLITICS GOING NOW?

>> I MAKE COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE AND I'VE BEEN HERE THROUGH THE TRAGEDIES AND I DEPLORE, DEPLORE VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND.

I HATE THE FACT WE HAVE EVIL PEOPLE THAT KILL PEOPLE.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE TOP FIVE COUNTRIES PER CAPITAL FIREARM OWNERSHIP, U.S., YEMEN, SWITZERLAND, FINLAND AND SERBIA AND ONLY TWO OF THOSE COUNTRIESHAVE A LOVE GUN ON.

YEMEN IS IN THE COURSE OF A CIVIL WAR THAT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED I DON'T THINK IT'S THE INANIMATE OBJECT.

I DON'T THINK THE GUN ITSELF, I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THESE YOUNG DISAFFECTED, FRIENDLESS MEN WITHOUT ANY MORALS WHATSOEVER DO NOT KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T KILL PEOPLE.

YOU DON'T EVER KILL PEOPLE IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.

AND IT FRUSTRATES ME WE ARE NOT FOCUSED ON THESE EVIL YOUNG MEN AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOTALWAYS IN, MEN WHO KILL CHILDREN, TO LOOK AT OTHER PEACEFUL GUN OWNERS, NRA MEMBERS FOR EXAMPLE, THESE MURDERS ARE NEVER NRA MEMBERS BUT THERE ARE PEACEFUL GUN OWNERS OUT THERE AND TO BLAME THEM OR THE OBJECT FOR THE CRIME, IT'S A LITTLE LIKE BLAMING CANCER PATIENTS WHO USE FENTANYL AS A PAIN RELIEF AND BLAMING OD AND DEALING AND DEALERS FOR ABUSE OF FENTANYL ON THOSE CANCER PATIENTS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO SEPARATE LAWFUL GUN OWNERS AND THEIR RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS FROM EVIL PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY CAN USE ANY WEAPON OR A CAR TO KILL ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.

>> Patty: ALSO JOINING US ELENA ALVAREZ, ELENA, CAN YOU SEPARATE THESE GROUPS?

>> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THE BOTTOM LINE REALLY HERE IS -- WHEN IT COMES TO CLASSROOM SAFETY, CARS, SCHOOLS, SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY.

ALTHOUGH WE CANNOT GUARANTEE IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN OUR SCHOOLS WHICH KNOCK ON WOOD IT DOES NOT.

WE CAN DO IS BETTER REPAIR FOR THEM.

THE STATE SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE CENTER CREATED A FIRST OF ITS KIND DOCUMENT, THEY RELEASED THIS PAST MARCH AT THE IT'S A 30 PLUS PAGE LIST OF GUIDELINES CREATED TO HELP SCHOOLS TO PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES AND CRAFTED BY SCHOOL SECURITY EXPERTS, MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IS DETAILED AND THOROUGH TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU PREPARE AND RESPOND.

AT THE END OF THE DAY OUR SCHOOLS EVEN WITH THIS FIRST OF ITS KIND DOCUMENT OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT PREPARED, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HANDLE AN EMERGENCY LIKE THIS THE STATE HAS PROVIDED ROUGHLY HALF OF THE $60Â MILLION SCHOOLS HAVE REQUESTED FOR SECURITY ENHANCEMENT AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY THOSE UNDERFUNDED UPGRADES ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT STUDENT AND PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO INTERVENE.

>> Patty: THOSE ARE REALLY GOOD STORIES ON AXIAL TODAY.

ALSO JOINING US AND RECENTLY OUT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON IS PULLING THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY A COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD OF THE STOCK PROGRAM ALSO WATCH HER TED TALK ON PULLEYS AND ALTERNATIVES.

WHAT PART WOULD YOU LIKE TO DISCUSS?

CERTAINLY SCHOOL SAFETY, YOU JUST GRADUATED >> I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SMART POLICIES,POLICIES LIKE COLORADO PROTECTION ORDER THAT ALLOW US TO TAKEN FROM PEOPLE WHO SHOULDNOT HAVE THEM WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RESERVING THAT RIGHT FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT GUNSFOR OTHER REASONS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WE BALANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH ANGLE ON THIS.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH IS SUFFERING SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOES NOT SCAPEGOAT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR THE BROADER GUN PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN AMERICA.

BALANCING THOSE TWO CONCERNS IS KEY.

AND A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE NOT RETREATING TO OUR IDEOLOGIES AND LOOKING TOWARD WHAT WORKS AND WHAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT IN THE FUTURE >> Patty: SADLY, WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC AGAIN.

I WANT TO POINT OUT WE DO HAVE A MAN HERE THIS WEEK BUT WE HAVE NO LAWYERS AT THE TABLE.

THE CONVERSATION SHOULD GO VERY QUICKLY.

THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR JARED POLIS SIGNED THE FENTANYL ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROTECTION BILL INTO LAW.

NEXT WEEK, MAYOR MICHAEL HANCOCK AND OTHER COLORADO OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING A TWO-DAY FENTANYL SUMMIT.

WITH ALL THIS ATTENTION, ARE WE ANY CLOSER TO SOLVING THE PROBLEM?

>> KRISTA THING I APPRECIATE BUT THIS BILL IT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF COMPROMISE.

YOU HAVE A GROUP OF LEGISLATORS ALL THE WAY FROM LET'S LOCK UP ANYBODY WHO HAS FENTANYL ALL THE WAY TO KNOW, WE SHOULD DE-CRIMINALIZE DRUGS AND FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE WHO WANT HELP FOR ADDICTION.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS KIND OF SMACK IN THE MIDDLE.

IT DOES PROVIDE PENALTIES FORTHOSE WHO KNOWINGLY HAVE FENTANYL OR ARE DEALING FENTANYL, AND PROVIDES MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE HELP FOR THOSE ADDICTED WANT TO GET SOME HELP.

THE FACT BOTH SIDES KIND OF HATE THE BILL LIVING IS AN INDICATION IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE.

PEOPLE ON THE FAR LEFT AND RIGHT SAY THE BILL GOES TOO FAR, OR IT DOESN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE BILL WHETHER AT WORK OR NOT IT'S KIND OF AGNOSTIC, IT DOES SHOW THAT YOU CAN COME TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING THAT DOES SOMETHING THAT IS A COMPROMISE.

THAT KIND OF HITS BOTH SIDES, AND THAT CAN BE EMBRACED OR LOATHED BY BOTH SIDE.

I SAY KUDOS TO THE LEGISLATURE >> Patty: ELENA, DO YOU THINK THIS RIGHT WITH THE COMPROMISE?

>> I THINK TIME WILL TELL IT'S CLEAR THE STATE AND CITY OF EMBER TAKING THIS PROBLEM MORE SERIOUSLY THAN THEY EVER HAVE IN MY THAT MATTERS IS BECAUSE FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE CLIMBING AT A FASTER RATE AND COLORADO THAN OTHER STATES AND AS WE TALKED ABOUT PLENTY AT THIS TABLE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN VERY VISIBLY SEEPING INTO STATE AND CITIES MOST PRIZED AND HEAVILY INVESTED PLACES INCLUDING UNION STATIONS, WHERE WE GO FROM HERE KRISTA NAILED IT ON THE HEAD NOBODY IS PLEASED WITH THIS BILL, IT FALLS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE AND THAT ARGUABLY IS A GOOD THING, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY STATE LEADERS VISION FOR A PATH FORWARD REMAIN PRETTY DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANT HARSHER PENALTIES YOU GOT PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT DEMOCRAT SERVICE PROVIDER SAYING DE-CRIMINALIZATION WHENEVER WORK BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO IT IS AFFECTING ALL COLORADANS ESPECIALLY THOSE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION RIGHT NOW IT ONLY APPEARS TO GET WORSE SO TO TAKE ACTION I WOULD SAY IT'S A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION >> Patty: COLINA DO YOU THINKTHEY CAME UP WITH A GOOD COMPROMISE?

>> I REALLY DO I THINK THEY ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY ANOTHER ANGLE I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THE EDUCATION ANGLE A LOT OF THE OVERDOSES WE SEE HAPPENING WITH FENTANYL ARE BECAUSE THERE EITHER WAS NOT TAKING FENTANYL OR SOMETHING LACED WITH IT AND SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GETTING INTO.

PUBLICIZING THAT MANY DRUGS OTHER ILLEGAL DRUGS CAN BE LACED WITH THINGS ON EXPECT IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT SO PEOPLE KNOW WHAT CONSEQUENCES THERE ARE.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT SIDE OF THE EDUCATIONAL ANGLE IS TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO RECOGNIZE AN OVERDOSE, CATCH IT EARLY ON IN CASE THEY HAVE A LOVED ONE THATMAY BE IN THAT SITUATION.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET HELP WHETHER THEY ARE THE LOVED ONE OR WHETHER THEY SEE SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT BE GOING TOWARD AN OVERDOSE.

EVEN IF THEY ARE ACTIVELY IN ONE, WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT AND GET HELP AND IT STARTS WITH TEACHING PEOPLE HOWTO MAKE THAT FIRST STEP.

>> Patty: AND FINALLY, ERIK, DID YOU EVERYTHING WE WOULD HEAR THE WORD FENTANYL SO OFTEN IN A LEGISLATIVE SESSION?

>> I DID NOT HAVE THAT ON MY BINGO CARD 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO THIS WOULD BE THE DOMINANT ISSUE.

IDENTIFY WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BUT MY THREE COLLEAGUES ARE PARTICULARLY COLLINA'S POINT IT IS NOT ABOUT PEOPLE, OR PEOPLE MAINLINING FENTANYL BUT BEING LACED INTO OTHER THINGS THAT YOU ARE PURCHASING, WHETHER THEY ARE LEGAL DRUGS OR ILLICIT DRUGS BUT NOT NECESSARILY DEADLY DRUGS BUT YOU PUT FENTANYL IN THEM AND OBVIOUSLY BECOME VERY MORBID VERY LETHAL, VERY QUICKLY.

I WOULD POINT OUT ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE COMPROMISE AND THEY WOULD BE A TINY BIT MORE HARSH ON IT THAT MY FELLOW PANELISTS.IT STRUCK ME AS SORT OF A COMPROMISE, YES, THERE WAS A COMPROMISE, BUT IT WAS BETWEEN THE HARD LEFT AND MIDDLE IT STRUCK ME.

IT IS STILL SORT OF A LEFT OF CENTER KIND OF COMPROMISE THAT IS THE NATURE OF THIS LEGISLATURE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AND COLORADO.

MYSELF I THINK I PROBABLY IDENTIFY WITH THE GOVERNOR THAT ANY AMOUNT OF FENTANYL IS TOO MUCH AND ANY AMOUNT SHOULD BE A FELONY OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A REPEAL I BELIEVE IT WAS A 2019 BILL OR MODIFICATION BUT A 2019 BILL THAT HAD A MUCH HIGHERTHRESHOLD OF FENTANYL.

SO IN THAT REGARD WAS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THERE IS NOT PURELY UNFORTUNATELY A THERAPEUTIC ANGLE THEIR MULTIPLE ANGLES STRICT ENFORCEMENT LEVERAGES PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT PROGRAMS BECAUSE THE THREAT OF THAT CRIMINAL PENALTY AND I HOPE THAT THREAT IS STILL SUFFICIENT TO DO SO.

>> Patty: WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT FENTANYL WITH THIS SUMMIT NEXT WEEK WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT OUR NEXT TOPIC GOOD REPORTING BY DAVID NAGOYA, FOUR FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THE COLORADO JUDICIAL MIDI WILL NOT BE FACING CHARGES AFTER AN INVESTIGATION INTO THEIR ALLEGED MISCONDUCT.

PROSECUTORS SAY THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE A CASE BEFORE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS EXPIRED.

ELENA, THIS IS BEEN THE WHOLE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ISSUE HAS BEEN HOT OVER THE LAST YEAR WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING?

>> I THINK THIS DEBACLE UNDERSCORES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BIPARTISAN BILL THAT PASSES THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AIMED AT REFORMING THE STATE'S JUDICIALSYSTEM AND BOLSTERING THE VISIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE THESE KIND OF JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT CLAIMS.

AT THE EYE OF THE DAY THEY ARE FORMER EMPLOYEES NOW WHICH IS A GOOD THING CONSIDERING THE AUDITORS, THE INVESTIGATION FELL APART, BUT THEY FOUND AT LEAST SOME EVIDENCE OF FRAUD, MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

I THINK IT'S GENERALLY DISAPPOINTING OR JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT IS NOT UPHOLDING THE LAW, ALSO COLORADANS TO BETTER I'M HAPPY TO SEE IF THIS BILL PASSES >> Patty: THE ACCUSATIONS GO UP TO THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT.

COLINA WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT?

>> I THINK THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS SERIOUSDAMAGE TO PUBLIC TRUST, COLORADANS WANT TO KNOW THEIR GOVERNMENT OPERATES TRANSPARENTLY AND IN THIS CASE IT REALLY DID.

I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH WHAT ELENA WAS SAYING IN TERMS OF THE FACT THIS IS A DISGRACE AND DISAPPOINTMENT.

AND THE FACT IT IS OCCURRING HAD SUCH A HIGH LEVEL I THINK DOES DO A LOT OF DAMAGE, ESPECIALLY TO THE PUBLIC'S IMAGE OF ITS OWN PERMIT.

GOING FORWARD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LAWS THAT PREVENT THIS AND I THINK THAT IS THE SOLUTION.

>> Patty: ERIK, YOU FLAG THISIS BEING A HOT TOPIC.

WHAT INSERTS YOU ABOUT IT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, START, KUDOS TO DAVID MAGUIRE DENVER GAZETTE COLORADO POLITICS, DAVID HAS BEEN ON TOP OF THE STORY FROM THE GET GO AND HAS A DONE A GREAT JOB TRACKING IT.

IT'S A MESS AND IT GOES BACK FURTHER THAN A YEAR.

THIS IS NOW SEVERAL YEARS IN ITS ORIGIN.

I UNDERSTAND WHY THE PROSECUTORS COULD NOT FILE CHARGES HERE BECAUSE OF DEADLINES AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, BUT SOMETHING IS STILL WRONG THAT THESE PEOPLE WHO PROBABLY SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO SOME CRIMINAL CONSEQUENCE OR PENALTY AVOID THAT.

THERE IS A SLOW WALKING GOING ON TO MY THINKING OF THIS WHOLE INVESTIGATION, AND ALSO SMACK âe"“ SMACKS TO ME OF THE CHICKEN IN THE HENHOUSE IN TERMS OF THE COURT'S INVOLVEMENT IN INVESTIGATION OF ITSELF.

HOPEFULLY, THE CONSULTANTS HIRED THE COMMITTEE'S FINALLY IN PLACE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BUT THIS REEKS OF ANYTHING BUT TRANSPARENCY ON THE PART OF THE JUDICIARY OF COLORADO.

THAT IS ONE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT THAT HAS SORT OF BEEN MEAN CAMILLA OF THE PARTISAN POLARIZED WRANGLES AND NOW THEY ARE IN THE TANK AS WELL AND DOES NOT HOLD WELL FOR OUR STATE >> Patty: NO, IT DOESN'T.

KRISTA I THINK YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT PENTHOUSES.

BUT THAT IS TRUE, I HAVE CHICKENS BUT I'M NOT A CRIMINAL.

IT'S A DISGRACE I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW THAT WILL PREVENT THINGS LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

I AM GLAD -- THEIR NAMES ARE TIRED EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CONVICT THEM BUT AT LEAST ANYONE, WHEN THEY ARE OUT TO LOOK FOR A NEW JOB HOPEFULLY THIS COMES UP THEY HAVE MADE SERIOUS HAVE NOT ERRORS IN JUDGMENT BUT MASSIVE BREACHES OF ETHICS.

AT SOME LEVEL I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME JUSTICE >> Patty: SLOWLY.

SPEAKING OF JUSTICE, IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK GEORGE FLOYD WAS KILLED ON WEDNESDAY, THECITY OF DENVER SAID IT IS APPEALING THE VERDICT THAT AWARDED A GROUP OF GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTERS $14Â MILLION PER VIOLATION OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

THE CITY IS ASKING THE AWARD LOWERED TO 1.6Â MILLION.

COLINA WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTEST IN THIS APPEAL?

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THIS PRESIDENT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST CASE OF ITS KIND IT IS THE FIRST RESULT CASE WE HAVE SEEN WHERE PROTESTERS FROM THE SUMMER OF 2020 BROUGHT THE CASE AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SIMILAR THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER CITIES BUT IN THIS CASE DENVER IS AHEAD.

HOW THIS ENDS UP BEING RESOLVED I THINK IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY HERE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THE CITY RATHER THAN PUTTING ALL THIS MANPOWER AND RESOURCES INTO THE APPEAL COULD TAKE A STEP BACK AND CONCENTRATE ON REFORMING SOME OF THE PROBLEM WE SEE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND ASKED THEMSELVES MY WHY THE CASE WAS BROUGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND WHAT THINGS NEED TO CHANGE TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

I THINK IF THE CITY WERE TO GO THAT ROUTE, THIS CAN BE NOT ONLY AN IMPORTANT PRECEDENT BUT A GOOD ONE ULTIMATE FOR THE CITY OF DENVER >> Patty: ERIK, YOU BEEN COVERING AND WATCHING THIS FOR A WHILE >> WHAT A TWO YEARS IT HAS BEEN A MOMENTOUS TWO YEARS OBVIOUSLY WITH THE OVERLAY OF COVID ON TOP OF THE GEORGE FLOYD INCIDENT TO RUN INTO THE COVID DEBACLE.

I GUESS I WANT TO COME AT IT FROM A MORE HOPEFUL OROPTIMISTIC.

YES, THE SPOTLIGHT HAS BEEN SHOWN AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON MASSIVE ABUSES AND LINGERING RACIAL PROBLEMS.

IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND HOORAY FOR THAT SPOTLIGHT AND HURRY FOR THE DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE ENSUED.

BUT WE SHOULD TAKE STOCK OF THE PROGRESS MADE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AND QUITE FRANKLY OVER THE LAST HALF-CENTURY OR THEREABOUTS.

THIS IS NOT THE SAME COUNTRY IT WAS IN THE JIM CROW ERA MUCH LESS THE ERA OF OVERT SLAVERY.

IT IS NOW EVEN A SAFE COUNTRY IT WAS FIVE, 10 YEARS AGO THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CORRECT POTS OUT THERE AND LOOSE SCREWS THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HATEFUL PEOPLE.

MAYBE THEY REPRESENT A SLIGHTLY HIGHER SEGMENT OF OUR POPULATION THEN SOMETIMES WE WISH WAS THE CASE.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE DO NOT I BELIEVE HAVE RACIAL AGENDAS.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE STOCK OF THAT AND CELEBRATE IT MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN CELEBRATED AND MAYBE DO WHAT WE CAN AT LEAST AT THE MARGINS TO MAKE RACE LESS CENTRAL TO WHO WE ARE AND LESS CENTRAL TO HOW WE DEFINE EACH OTHER.

THEN THOSE WHO WANT TO MAKE EVERYTHING ABOUT RACE.

>> Patty: KRISTA, I SEE YOU NODDING WOULD YOU SECOND THAT?

>> 100 PERCENT I HOPE THE CITY PREVAILS IN ITS APPEAL.

THE FACT IS, 80 OFFICERS WERE INJURED IN THOSE SO-CALLED PEACEFUL PROTESTS.

I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OWESSOMETHING TO THOSE TRULY PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WERE INJURED IN COVERING THE MEDICAL BILLS AND SO FORTH.

BUT $1Â MILLION OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE CITY, 80 OFFICERS WERE INJURED.

PLEASE MAKE SOME MISTAKES AND HOW THEY HANDLED IT, BUT THEY HAD TO BE THERE AND HAD TO USE FORCE.

THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE PEACEFUL BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILLING TO HURT OTHERS, HURT PROPERTY AND BREAK THINGS THEY DID NOT OWN.

I WORRY GOING FORWARD THE POLICE WILL BE HESITANT IN COMBATING SOME OF THESE VIOLENT UPRISINGS, THESE RIGHTS.

I WENT TO A PEACEFUL PRO-LIFE RALLY, THERE WERE THESE OTHER PROTESTERS THERE SCREAMING OBSCENITIES INTO BULLHORNS I NEVER HEARD ANY OF THE WOMAN THAT GOT UP TO TALK IN THE PLEASE DO NOT DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN KEEP THEM FROM PHYSICALLY ATTACKING US.

I WANT TO SEE -- WE'VE GOT TO CRACK DOWN ON THESE VIOLENT PROTESTERS AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT SEEM TO GET THEIR OPINION ACROSS WITHOUT HURTING SOMEBODY OR BREAKING SOMETHING >> Patty: ELENA IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE FREE SPEECH AND PROTESTS THAT DON'T CAUSE TROUBLE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO HOPE SO.

I THINK THE CITY REALLY IS GOING BACK TO THIS CASE, THE CITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MEET A HIGH LEGAL STANDARD TO GET THIS OVERTURNED AND TALKING TO THE ATTORNEYS WE HAVE FOR THIS STORY.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE MAJOR NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND WILL AFFECT OTHER LAWSUITS THAT ARE READY FILED AND EXPECTED TO BE FILED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, INCLUDING ONE FILED LAST WEEK, WITH 12 MORE NEW PROTESTERS.

I THINK THE CITY HAS A LOT ON HIS PLATE BUT ALL OF THIS KIND OF BOILS DOWN TO PROTESTERS NOT NECESSARILY SEEN THOSE DAMAGES OR COMPENSATION FOR YEARS BECAUSE IT WILL BE GUIDING LEGAL LIMBO FOR A WHILE >> Patty: AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR OUR FAVORITE PART, >> THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY WE COVERED A FEW, THE GOVERNOR IS FUN THESE DAYS OF TALKING ABOUT QUOTE, UNQUOTE SAVING PEOPLE MONEY.

IT HAS BECOME HIS MANTRA, PATTY YOU AND I HAVE OFTEN EXCHANGED EMAILS HIS OFFICE SENDS OUT WITH THESE ENDLESS SUBJECT LINES ABOUT SAVING PEOPLE MONEY.

THERE WAS LEGISLATION TO PUT MORE MONEY AND PAIR UP MONEY NOT GIVEN TO PAIR UP FOR THE STATES COMMITMENT DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC WHEN OBVIOUSLY THE STATE'S COFFERS WERE WEAK.

GOOD FREE THE LEGISLATURE FOR AT LEAST STEPPING UP AND NOT FULLY FUND WHAT THEY SHOULD HAVE FUNDED AND POLIS WAS NOT AN ADVOCATE FOR DOING SO HE WAS A HINDRANCE NOT IN ADVOCATE AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO SAY PEOPLE MONEY NOT OVER THE SHORT TERM BUT THE LONG-TERM YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT COLORADO CARE UP AND MAKE IT HEALTHY AND POLIS WAS NOT AN ADVOCATE FOR DOING SO OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS >> Patty: KRISTA?

>> I'M GIVING IT TO NARCISSIST STAGING A CAMPAIGN SCHEME BY INTERRUPTING THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE AFTER THAT HORRIFIC SHOOTING AND SHAME ON HIM.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT DO IT ON YOUR OWN TIME >> Patty: ELENA?

>> IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WEATHER IS WARM BUT A GALLON OF GAS NOW IN DENVER ERA IS RUNNING AROUND $1.13 MORE THAN IT DID A YEAR AGO AND THAT IS PAINFUL >> Patty: COLLINA?

>> MINE TAKES IT BACK TO THE GUN BALANCE ISSUE AND THE UNFORTUNATE EVENTS CLOSE TO HOME HAPPENING AT NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AND ALWAYS A FEAR IT IS TRULY A SHAME STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND FAMILIES ALL HAVE TO HAVE THAT IN THEIR LIVES RIGHT NOW >> Patty: LET'S TURN, AIR, SOMETHING NICE?

>> ELENA TOUCHED ON IT BUT IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

OBVIOUSLY SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THOSE WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY AND THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE HOORAY FOR THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS OF GEORGIA THIS WEEK.

WHO STOOD UP TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, STOOD UP TO ALL THE STOVE ELECTION CLAIMS STOOD UP TO HIS VENGEANCE TOUR OF TRYING TO DISLODGE THE GOVERNOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL ALL WERE RE-NOMINATED BY VERY HEFTY MARGIN.

GOOD FOR THE VOTERS OF GEORGIA >> Patty: KRISTA?

>> I'M GIVING IT TO STATE LEGISLATOR DON GORHAM I UNDERSTAND HE DID VERY WELL SO KUDOS TO HIM.

RP WINS THE RACE >> Patty: ELENA?

>> THE COLORADO ROCKIES REVEALED THE JERSEYS THERE GOING TO WORK AGAINST THE BRAVES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE GETTING A LOT OF HATE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE OUR COLORADO LICENSE PLATES I THINK IT'S GREAT >> Patty: COLINNA?

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THE RISK OF -- WE HAD SURPRISES IN THE PAST FEW DAYS I THINK IT'S TURN AROUND AND EXCITED TO GET OUTSIDE WE WILL SEE EVERYTHING COLORADO HAS TO OFFER >> Patty: I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT TWO DENDRITES WHO PASSED AWAY, HELEN RUCKER AND JERRY KENNEDY THE LEGENDARY POLICEMAN WHO GOT A CADILLAC FROM ELVIS.

DENVER IS A DOLLAR TOWN WITHOUT JERRY KENNEDY AROUND.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

BUT DUE TO THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK TONIGHT PBS 12 IS DOING A SPECIAL PROGRAM AGAIN AT 9:00 P.M.

TUNE IN FOR INDEPENDENT LENS BULLETPROOF A VERY TIMELY AND PROVOCATIVE LOOK AT HOW SCHOOLS ARE TAKING CARE OF FEELING SAFE AT THIS TIME.

IF YOU CANNOT JOIN US TONIGHT, BE SURE TO WATCH IT ON PBS 12 PASSPORT.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

I'M PATTY CALHOUN EDITOR OF WESTWOOD.

THANKS YOU FOR JOINING US MEN BACK MAYBE LAWYERS BACK NEXT WEEK.

YOU COME BACK, TOO.

[CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY VZP DIGITAL]