Denver’s yellow vest program has raised the ire of some City Council members.
The city has decked out downtown “ambassadors” in yellow vests. The idea is to create a point of contact for help visible to people downtown so they will feel safer. Mayor Mike Johnston gave a briefing on the program during Tuesday’s mayor-council meeting. Council member Sarah Parady said she believes the program opens the city up to lawsuits.
Parady believes that putting a yellow vest on someone, such as a private security company employee, is akin to anointing them city workers. Parady, a lawyer, said it opens the city up to tremendous liability. “They are going to hurt someone. I’ve sued security companies.”
Man beaten by guards at Union Station
Council member Shontel Lewis recalled Allied Security beating a man at Union Station several years ago. It ended in a lawsuit against RTD.
Johnston said the yellow vest program does not give security guards any added powers. They can only perform duties as outlined in the scope of work spelled out in their contracts. But Lewis wanted to know what metrics are in place to make sure the guards have appropriate interactions with the public. She said RTD had a $30 million contract with Allied. Lewis, who was on the RTD board at the time, said they learned they really had no control over how the security firm performed its duties. She worries about those wearing yellow vests adopting a vigilante mentality. She referenced the killing of Trayvon Martin. “What are the consequences that we are willing to shoulder?” Lewis asked.