The Colorado Springs Police Department has put together a new downtown division that will step up patrols of the rowdy Tejon Street corridor five days a week.

On Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., downtown officers will have a separate radio channel and a dedicated dispatcher to increase response times. The goal is to “de-escalate situations before they become explosive,” the Downtown Partnership said in a news release.

Wednesdays through Saturdays, there will be three full-time officers patrolling downtown.

“The officers have gotten to know the club owners and doormen and while there are still times of disagreement, there is a noticeably higher level of trust. The clubs are working with CSPD on many issues,” the release said.

With the majority of homeless campers gone from the banks of Fountain Creek, members of the Homeless Outreach Team will also spend more time patrolling downtown on bikes.

Denver’s Elvis Dumervil has been pointed to as an example of the Broncos’ high-character players for not causing any problems during difficult contract negotiations. Photo by