In the city where the Rockies tower high and the air carries a sense of frontier justice, the Denver Police Department has, very plainly, spelled out a renewed commitment to tackling sexual assault. As April, designated as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, gave way to May, a social media missive from the department, in collaboration with the Denver District Attorney's Office, The Blue Bench, and Denver Health, made clear that understanding and preventing sexual assault begins with one immutable rule: consent.
The Denver Police Department emphatically stated "SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME; GET CONSENT EVERY TIME," this declaration is not just a mantra but a call to perpetual action against the violation of personal autonomy, and they did not mince words stating that even with consent, certain situations, like those involving underage individuals or relatives are inexcusably and unequivocally against the law, citing statutory rape and incest as clear-cut crimes.
The campaign that Denver has opted to endorse, Start by Believing, is more than a slogan; it's an ethos that undergirds the city's stance against sexual violence. This program encourages a community-wide shift towards a default position of belief and support for victims coming forward with their stories, because the first response a survivor hears can significantly shape their journey to healing and justice. By aligning themselves with this approach, Denver authorities are sending an unequivocal signal to survivors: your voice matters.
