Centennial State News

Heidi Ganahl, a Republican candidate for governor of Colorado, issued a statement criticizing Gov. Jared Polis for enacting policies that she says have made Colorado less safe.

“In the last four years, Colorado has become the most dangerous place to raise a family,” Ganahl said in an online report. “Under Jared Polis’ watch, Colorado has become a sanctuary state, which has allowed fentanyl to flow in. We see the second-highest number of deaths from this poison.”

Polis signed HB 1124 into law in 2019, making Colorado a sanctuary state, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) reported. FAIR reports that the law bans state and local law enforcement from "honoring immigration detainers, as well as requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hold criminal aliens who are already in custody for up to 48 hours without a judicial warrant." FAIR also stated the new law complicates cooperation between ICE and law enforcement officials on federal immigration initiatives, and probation officers are restricted from sharing information with ICE about immigrants under their supervision.

The open-borders lobby praised Polis for "keeping his promise" with the Colorado Immigrants Right Coalition, stating that the law will help people who have immigrated illegally "feel safe" and have the same rights as American citizens. ICE said in a statement, “By signing Colorado’s HB 1124, the state has codified a dangerous policy that deliberately obstructs our country’s lawful immigration system, protects serious criminal alien offenders and undermines public safety.”

In regards to drug problems in the state, Colorado experienced the second-highest increase in fentanyl deaths in the country between 2019 and 2021, Axios Denver reported, citing a February 2022 report from the nonprofit Families Against Fentanyl. Fentanyl overdose deaths in the state rose to 800 in 2021, from 540 in 2020, which was up from five in 2000. 

In terms of crime, murder in Colorado increased by 47% between 2019 and 2021. Violent crimes — including aggravated assault, sexual assault and robbery — increased by 17% over the same time period, CPR News reported in March. The property crime rate has risen by 20% and motor vehicle thefts are up 86%, CPR reported. 

“Coloradans can no longer feel safe in our neighborhoods and downtowns,” Ganahl said. “We are number one in auto theft, bank robberies and property crime. And when it comes to our children, schools need to be safer.”

Overall, an FBI analysis found that crime in Colorado saw the fourth-highest increase of any state between 2019 and 2020, behind only Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Utah, CPR reported. 

“Colorado, historically, has been a remarkably safe state, well below the national averages … we can’t say that anymore,” Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said, according to CPR. “I study this crime data on a daily basis and we have significant challenges. Until we come together and are even willing to admit we have a problem, I’m not sure how we’ll be able to get this fixed.”

Pazen expressed doubt that the spike in crime is related to the pandemic. 

“Please tell me how a virus makes people commit more crimes, makes people steal more cars, increases the number of shootings we have?” he said, according to CPR. “The state of Colorado has emerged from many of the mandates earlier than other states, yet the last four months have been remarkably high for homicides.” 

Pazen called on state lawmakers to reevaluate recent laws that lessen penalties for crimes, including auto theft and drug possession. 

Ganahl defeated Greg Lopez in the Republican primary in June and will face off against Polis in the November general election, according to Ballotpedia.