DENVER — Should noncitizens be able to serve as Denver police officers and firefighters? Some Denver City Council members want to change the city’s charter to make it possible.
Right now, Denver’s city charter requires anyone applying to become a police officer or firefighter to be a U.S. citizen. Denver City Council President Jamie Torres, who represents District 3, says that limits the pool of applicants.
“We know that one of the things that both departments have been struggling with is really getting great qualified applicants through the door,” said Torres.
Torres and Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval are developing a proposal that, if approved by voters, would change the city charter, allowing applicants without U.S. citizenship to serve as police officers and firefighters. Torres said this would include Dreamers or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, who were brought to the U.S. as children.
“What I think this means for Dreamers, for DACA recipients, for legal permanent residents, is they get a chance at a really important, meaningful job path,” said Torres.