🚆 CoCo ballot measure veers off course

📷 Wrongly Accused Woman Sues After Viral Flock Flub

Remember last year when a Columbine Valley police officer accused Denver resident Chrisanna Elser of package theft using data from a Flock camera that seemed to have captured her truck near a reported incident? Charges were dropped after Elser collected evidence proving her innocence, and now she’s suing city officials and the surveillance company in federal court, alleging that Flock breaches the Fourth Amendment, invades privacy rights, and is negligent in its design and services. [KDVR/Denver Post 🔒]

• Context: Flock operates one of the largest mass surveillance systems in American history, with more than 120,000 cameras capturing roughly 20 billion license plates each month, and can instantly provide a person’s complete movement history, according to the lawsuit. Flock lookups do not require a search warrant. [Denver Post 🔒/Colorado Sun]
• The investigation: In September 2025, Columbine Valley police officer Sgt. Jamie Milliman came to Chrisanna Elser’s door and accused her of stealing a $25 package in the town of Bow Mar based on doorbell video of the theft and Flock tracking. He reportedly told her,“there is zero doubt, I wouldn’t have come here unless I was 100% sure.” [KDVR]
• Outcome: Columbine Valley Police Chief Bret Cottrell reviewed the case weeks later and dropped the charges against Elser. According to Elser’s lawsuit, Sgt. Milliman was disciplined, but not for Flock misuse or the flawed investigation. The complaint names Sgt. Milliman, Police Chief Bret Cottrell, the towns of Bow Mar and Columbine Valley, and Flock Safety. [Denver Post 🔒/Colorado Sun]
• Flock’s response: A spokesman for the surveillance company passed responsibility for interpreting their camera’s data onto law enforcement, adding that “[Flock] accurately identified the location of Ms. Elser’s vehicle.” [KDVR]

🗳️ What Did Tina Peters and Trump Talk About?

Former Mesa County clerk and convicted felon Tina Peters met with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss “election integrity” and plans for upcoming elections, according to a former U.S. Department of Justice attorney. Since her release from prison in June, Peters has advocated for the president to seize control of elections, which are constitutionally run by the states, and ban voting machines that use foreign-made components. [Sentinel Colorado/Democracy Docket]

• Speaking of election reform: Colorado voters will decide on Amendment 84 this November, which would require voters to provide partial Social Security or driver’s license numbers on mail-in ballots. Check out today’s pod to learn more as City Cast Denver producer Shane Franklin breaks down the current verification process, the proposed constitutional change, where it’s coming from, and what it means for you. 👇

🤞 I Swear to Scoot Off Sidewalks

Scooter provider VEO’s latest effort to keep riders off sidewalks doesn’t involve geofencing or warning alarms. Instead, riders can now pledge (with their right hand on a printed copy of the Denver City Charter, I imagine) to stay in streets and bike lanes in exchange for $5 in ride credits. There aren’t currently any consequences for breaking this solemn oath as far as the initiative is concerned, though sidewalk riding remains illegal. [Westword]

🚨 20-Year Sentence for 3 linked to Tren de Aragua

After pleading guilty to attempted kidnapping, three Venezuelan men were recently sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to U.S. attorney Peter McNeilly. Prosecutors say the victim was targeted and tortured at his Denver home in 2024 after 2 of his roommates discovered that he and his father were police officers in Venezuela. A fourth man also pled guilty to attempted kidnapping and is set to be sentenced in December. [Denver 7/Denver Post]

🚆 CoCo Ballot Measure Veers Off Course

After years and years of planning, the Front Range Passenger Rail District has placed a proposed .0333% sales tax hike in front of voters to fund expanded passenger train service to Colorado Springs and Pueblo, as well as some nicer-looking stations. But after an apparent miscommunication between county clerks and the secretary of state’s office, some voters outside the district will see the question on their ballots as well. It’s complicated, but basically the district’s boundaries don’t perfectly align with county borders, and elections are administered on a county-to-county basis. [Colorado Sun/9News/Denver Post 🔒]