Dilemma: What to do about the Occupy Denver squatter camp?

Trustafarian Tent City

DENVER (AP) — Gov. John Hickenlooper says he isn't sure what legal options the state has to deal with protesters who have camped out at the State Capitol protesting corporate greed. 

Hickenlooper told KOA-AM radio on Tuesday that he is concerned about the illegal encampment on state property but didn't indicate that he was prepared to order the State Patrol to clear out the park.

Read more: Dilemma: What to do about the Occupy Denver squatter camp?

Enforce the law

By Senator Greg Brophy

Can you imagine a regular law abiding citizen of Colorado getting away with illegal camping at Chatfield Res or Cherry Creek State Park? Maybe they could if they called it an Occupy the PAW (that's Parks and Wildlife for the uninformed).

When you have a failure of leadership bad things happen. The moment the first tent was allowed on the Capitol grounds we had the initial failure in leadership. Now, there are reports of upwards of 40 tents and there is no end in sight to the flaunting of the law.

Governor Hickenlooper was on 850 KOA's Mike Rosen Show where Mike asked him about removing the trespassers. The Governor said, "We told them to leave." But he clearly said that he wouldn't make them leave (read, enforce the law). He went on to say that the State doesn't have a jail, so he wouldn't know what to do with them. So presumably if they refused to leave he would have to work that out with the city and the District Attorney. Really? 

So if CSP arrests a drunk driver, they have to let the drunk go because they don't have an arrangement with any local jurisdiction to hold the driver in jail while awaiting prosecution? I don't think so. As a matter of fact, I know, and you know, that isn't correct.

It is time to enforce the law, write some tickets and then remove the trespassers.

Lead. Now. Before it is too late and one of our Troopers gets hurt dealing with a smelly hippie who wants to make a name for himself.

This problem may not pass quietly like an interim election but build until it becomes something that forces a stand. Governor, are you going to enforce the law equally and fairly or subjectively?

Coloradans are waiting and watching.

——-

(Photo Credit: WhoSaidYouSaid)