DENVER — The Denver Police Department will resume enforcing the city’s urban camping ban, the Denver City Attorney’s Office confirmed Monday evening. A county judge struck down the ban in late December.
The judge, Johnny C. Barajas, argued the ban violated the Eight Amendment.
“The County Court ruling related to the ordinance did not overturn or prohibit enforcement,” the city attorney’s office said of the judge’s decision.
The city attorney’s office did not say when enforcement would resume.
Since the ban was struck down, the homeless community has set up tents in public places previously off-limits to camping, such as Civic Center Park.
The city attorney’s office says an appeal of the judge’s ruling has not yet been filed, but a notice of appeal has been submitted in district court.
Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca said last week that she wants to repeal the ban through City Council.
“When you’re a city and starved of public dollars, and you have a ruling that a law you’re enforcing is cruel and unusual, you should repeal that law,” CdeBaca said.
Mayor Michael Hancock has supported the ban and would likely veto any push to repeal it.
In May 2019, more than 80 percent of Denverites who voted shot down a ballot measure to repeal the ban.