Denver, CO
Denver police officers fired after joking about using migrant shelters for “target practice”

Three Denver police officers were fired after joking about visiting migrant shelters in the city and using them as “target practice,” the police department said.
In March, three Denver police officers in a shared group chat posted messages joking about going to newcomer shelters in the city and using them for target practice, according to a statement from the police department.
The group chat consisted of Denver police officers who went through the training academy together and were still probationary officers, according to the Denver Police Department.
The probation period for the Denver Police Department includes the time it takes to complete training at the police academy and nine months after graduating from the program.
“You participated in inappropriate text messaging conversations with other DPD recruits joking that you would go to at least two migrant shelters and shoot them for target practice,” Denver’s Chief of Police Ron Thomas wrote in termination letters to each of the officers. “This behavior is extremely prejudicial to the department and poorly represents the Denver Police Department to the community.”
The police department learned about the texts on April 4 and — “due to the abhorrent nature of the messages” — terminated all three officers on July 22, according to a statement from the department.
Former Denver officers Rodrigo Basurto, Meagan Joy and Scot Persichette were the only police officers in the group chat who were fired.
“Additional Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity training and Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) training will be provided to the other officers on that group chat,” Denver police officials said in the statement. Officials did not specify how many officers were in the group chat.
Since the three did not complete their probationary period, they are not eligible to appeal the dismissal, according to the department.
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Denver, CO
Denver Broncos NFL Draft 2025 guide: Picks, predictions and key needs

The Denver Broncos have the 20th pick in the NFL Draft when Round 1 begins April 24 in Green Bay. The Broncos own seven total picks in the seven-round draft.
Broncos’ draft picks
Round | Pick | Overall | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
20 |
20 |
|
2 |
19 |
51 |
|
3 |
21 |
85 |
|
4 |
20 |
122 |
|
6 |
15 |
191 |
From Cardinals |
6 |
21 |
197 |
|
6 |
32 |
208 |
From Eagles |
Full draft order
Every pick in the seven-round NFL Draft.
NFL Draft details
• Round 1: April 24, 8 p.m. ET
• Rounds 2-3: April 25, 7 p.m. ET
• Rounds 4-7: April 26, noon ET
All rounds will be televised on ESPN/ABC and NFL Network and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes.
About the Broncos
• General manager: George Paton (fifth season with team)
• Head coach: Sean Payton (third season)
• Last year’s record: 10-7
The Broncos in 2024 defied gloomy preseason expectations by reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2015. They did it behind promising rookie Bo Nix, the sixth quarterback taken in last year’s draft, and a young defense that led the NFL in sacks and featured the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain II. Denver added to that promising foundation during free agency with three key signings at positions of need — linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and tight end Evan Engram — and believes it is ready to challenge the Kansas City Chiefs’ stranglehold on the AFC West.
Scouting the decision-makers
Sean Payton has the final say on personnel decisions, but he and general manager George Paton have found a collaborative rhythm in the draft. They were aligned in their pursuit of Nix last season and filled in a draft class behind him that significantly impacted Denver’s playoff season in 2024. Entering their third draft together, it’s the most continuity the Broncos have had between GM and coach since John Elway and John Fox worked together through four straight drafts (2011 to 2014).
• The Broncos’ 2024 NFL Draft class
Broncos’ key free-agent signings
• TE Evan Engram: Two-year, $23 million deal
• LB Dre Greenlaw: Three-year, $35 million deal
• S Talanoa Hufanga: Three-year, $45 million deal
• DT D.J. Jones: Three-year, $39 million deal
• OT Matt Peart: Two-year, $7 million deal
• Broncos’ 2025 free agency tracker
Broncos’ key positions of need
Running back: The Broncos let their leading rusher of the past two seasons, Javonte Williams, walk in free agency and didn’t sign a veteran replacement. None of Denver’s four remaining running backs has ever rushed for 500 yards in a season. The Broncos are clearly in search of an impact player at the position in the draft.
Tight end: Even after signing Engram to a two-year deal, the Broncos could use more pass-catching depth at tight end. They may not be in range to select the draft’s top two targets at the position, Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, but this is a deep class of receiving tight ends. Two to keep an eye on with connections to the Broncos: Gunnar Helm of Texas, who played his high school football outside of Denver; and Oregon’s Terrance Ferguson, who caught passes from Nix in college.
Defensive line: The Broncos have long-term decisions to make with Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers. Those two starting ends, plus defensive tackle Malcolm Roach, are all entering the final seasons of their respective contracts in 2025. The Broncos need more young talent up front.
Broncos’ draft analysis
Denver Broncos 2025 NFL Draft big board: Will Sean Payton find more targets for Bo Nix?
Numbers explain Sean Payton’s emphasis on receiving in Broncos’ RB search
Broncos mailbag: The next step for Bo Nix, NFL Draft targets, ‘Hard Knocks’ chances
Broncos roster reset: Is UNC’s Omarion Hampton the RB solution? Extensions on DL?
Broncos 2025 NFL Draft big board: 10 players who fit Sean Payton’s roster ‘musts’
2025 NFL Draft consensus Big Board: Abdul Carter holds at No. 1; Armand Membou rises
The Athletic’s latest mock drafts
March 24: Ben Standig’s mock draft
Another case for picking UNC’s Omarion Hampton
March 21: Beat writer mock draft 2.0
Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart would continue Denver’s defensive infusion
March 10: Nick Baumgardner rounds 1-3 mock draft
More weapons added for Bo Nix
March 7: Broncos mock draft 2.0
A trade back adds picks and help at defensive tackle
March 5: Dane Brugler mock draft
Hampton would offer another “Joker” option
(Photo of North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton: Grant Halverson / Getty Images)
Denver, CO
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Denver, CO
Denver Jazz Fest kicks off April 3; Record Store Day is April 12

April will be the premier month for jazz in Denver and Boulder, due to the arrival of the Denver Jazz Fest. Kicking off April 3 and running through April 6, some of the area’s best-sounding venues will open their doors to present internationally known artists and local jazz luminaries.
Performers include saxophonist Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, guitarist Bill Frisell, multi-Grammy winner and Denverite Dianne Reeves, who is unquestionably one of the most accomplished living singers, pianist Omar Sosa, saxophonist Charles McPherson teaming up with trumpeter Terell Stafford, vocalist Ganavya, Boulder-based piano legend Art Lande, emerging and incendiary saxophonist Isaiah Collier, the funk-drenched Ghost Note, The Headhunters and more.
There will be 30 shows total.
It’s encouraging to see the involvement of so many venues in Denver and Boulder, from Nocturne to the Newman Center, presenting such heartfelt music. This will be the first Denver Jazz Fest, and hopefully an annual Colorado tradition will be established. It’s time for the world to be reminded of our extraordinary musical history. Everything you need to know is at denverjazz.org.
Record Store Day
“You can never have enough records” is a statement I embrace. Luckily, Record Store Day is Saturday, April 12. That means your favorite local retailer will amass a stash of limited-edition vinyl for you to grasp excitedly. The archival jazz crop this time around is excellent: there are recently-unearthed live dates from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (“On Fire – Live From The Blue Morocco”,) bassist Charles Mingus (“In Argentina – The Buenos Aires Concerts”,) and trumpet king Kenny Dorham (“Blue Bossa In The Bronx”) which is of particular interest, because there really isn’t a lot of Kenny Dorham music around in physical form.
There’s also an exhilarating four-hour vinyl box from big bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra, “Nuits de la Fondation Maeght,” which includes a generous amount of previously unreleased sounds of joy from the summer of 1970. It’s as noisy as it is delightful. Locations and the definitive list are at recordstoreday.com. I hope you get what you want.
Guitarist Dave Devine will perform music associated with guitar hero Grant Green at Nocturne March 30, along with a six-course dinner…The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra presents a tribute to Quincy Jones at Dazzle March 31…The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band will perform at DU’s Newman Center April 8…The Mike Marlier Quartet honors Chick Corea at Nocturne on April 9…the gifted saxophonist Miguel Zenon brings his quartet to Dazzle April 14…saxophonist-vocalist Brianna Harris performs “The Modern Songbook” at Nocturne Saturdays in April…NEA Jazz Master-saxophonist Gary Bartz, who has worked with legends from Art Blakey to Miles Davis, will take to the Dazzle stage May 1-2. Bartz is living history, and he doesn’t appear in Colorado very often…Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers appear at the Boulder Theater May 3…
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