Reps. Evans, Boebert and Crank Urge Polis to Work With Them on Colorado's Public Safety Crisis
WASHINGTON, DC — Today Reps. Gabe Evans (CO-08), Lauren Boebert (CO-04), and Jeff Crank (CO-05) sent a letter to Governor Jared Polis following his September 17th response to their request for a second special legislative session focused on Colorado's escalating crime crisis.
The members urged the Governor to stop directing blame and work collaboratively to implement meaningful public safety solutions.
An excerpt from the letter reads:
“We received your September 17th response to our calls to address Colorado’s crime wave with a second special legislative session. While incredibly disappointed that you, the most powerful elected official in a state with a $44 billion dollar budget, chose to blame everyone and everything except your own policies and your record — we know that our constituents’ lives are too important to play political games with. Coloradans deserve to live free of fear in their own homes and communities without having their very safety turned into a game of ‘gotcha.’” — Representatives Gabe Evans, Lauren Boebert and Jeff Crank
“As a former cop in Colorado, I’ve seen firsthand how Polis’s policies have put criminals ahead of Coloradans and weakened public safety across our state,” said Rep Evans.“Colorado now ranks as the second most dangerous state in the nation, and families are paying the price. It’s time for the Governor to take accountability for the crisis he created, put public safety first, and work alongside us on real solutions that protect our communities.”
“Colorado is now one of the most dangerous states in America because of the Democrat’s pro-crime policies,” said Rep Boebert. “Criminals are emboldened, families live in fear, and the Governor refuses to use the tools and resources available to protect them. It’s time to stop making excuses and start protecting Coloradans.”
“As the governor of Colorado, Polis needs to own up to the crime wave that he has created,” said Rep. Crank. “Colorado has now been crowned the second most dangerous state in the nation, and that’s solely due to his soft on crime policies. I stand with Rep. Evans and Boebert, who prioritize the safety of our communities. Polis has the tools to make Colorado safer. We’ll see when he actually starts to use them.”
Background:
Colorado is currently experiencing one of the worst crime waves in the nation. According to the U.S. News and World Report, Colorado now ranks as the second most dangerous state in America, and Denver’s violent crime rate surpasses that of Washington D.C.
A recent statewide survey found:
More than half of Coloradans do not feel safe where they live.
65% worry about violent crime on a daily basis.
This public safety crisis stems from a series of soft-on-crime policies enacted under Governor Polis, including the continuation of Colorado’s sanctuary state status and a bond system that repeatedly releases career criminals and drug traffickers back into communities.
In his September 17th letter, Governor Polis claimed the state lacked resources — despite refusing to access billions in federal law enforcement dollars, including funds available through the 287 (g) program and the BIDEN Reimbursement Fund.
The Members’ letter outlines several bipartisan efforts currently underway in Congress that would directly support Colorado, including:
The Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act (H.R. 909) — ensuring stable, long-term funding for victims of crime across the state.
Congressman Evans bipartisan Combatting Fentanyl Poisoning Act — Directing $15 million annually to help state and local law enforcement target fentanyl traffickers, protect officers, and educate young people about counterfeit pills and social-media-driven drug sales.
Recent release of $22 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds from the Department of Justice — funds that directly support communities, survivors, and prosecutors.
Despite these available resources and bipartisan opportunities, Governor Polis used the most recent special session not to address rising crime — but to raise taxes on small businesses and double down on funding for illegal immigrants, leaving public safety concerns unaddressed.
Rep. Evans, Boebert, and Crank reaffirmed their commitment to working across the aisle to secure real, lasting solutions to Colorado's public safety crisis — and called on Governor Polis to uphold his own “Disagree Better” pledge by engaging in genuine collaboration instead of political deflection.
You can read the letter here.