The Denver Metropolis Council on Monday approved as much as $24 million in further spending on personal safety providers throughout town this yr.
The better monetary latitude — increasing contracts with three completely different corporations — is important to satisfy Denver’s evolving safety wants, in keeping with abstract paperwork, significantly round 24/7 shelters for migrants from the southern U.S. border and people who find themselves homeless.
The council accredited increasing the utmost quantity of an current contract with Securitas Safety Companies USA from $25 million to $43 million. That contract, which first went into impact in the beginning of 2022, expires on the finish of the yr however the metropolis and the corporate have choices to increase it for 2 extra years.
The council additionally accredited increasing contracts with two different companies Superior Skilled Safety and Denver Metro Protecting Companies. These on-call contracts initially reached their most billable quantities at $400,000 however are actually approved to attract down as a lot as $3.4 million in taxpayer {dollars} earlier than the top of the yr.
Nicol Suddreth, town’s contract supervisor with the Division of Basic Companies, informed council members at a committee assembly final month that the three corporations present safety service at greater than 30 municipal amenities throughout Denver.
The demand for the providers has grown considerably over the previous two years, in keeping with metropolis officers, significantly because of the necessity to present extra 24-hour providers at an expanded portfolio of metropolis shelter amenities for migrants and people who find themselves homeless.
When Denver first signed its contract with Securitas, the corporate devoted 175 guards to town’s wants. That quantity reached 250 earlier this yr, Suddreth stated final month.
The corporate gives on-site safety for 3 former lodges which have been transformed into homeless shelters as a part of Mayor Mike Johnston’s All In Mile Excessive homeless initiative.