Despite decreased chances for socialization caused by COVID-19 health restrictions, 2020 was ultimately a deadlier year from a crime perspective than those preceding it in the city of Pueblo.
Fourteen homicides were reported by the Pueblo Police Department during 2020, up from 12 homicides in 2019 and up further from a reported eight in 2018.
Aggravated assault reports were also up in 2020, rising to 627 reported assaults from 564 in 2019.
However, officers reported fewer incidents of using force against a subject. In 2019, a total of 235 response to aggression/resistance reports were filed with the police'sinternal affairs division, and only 126 such reports were filed during 2020.
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The majority of both years' reports were for officers' use of "personal weapons," which includes control holds, empty-hand strikes, knee or elbow strikesand takedowns. However, six reports were for use of a firearm during 2020, three were for a display of a firearm or stun gun, and 51 reports were for use of a Taser. An additional five reports were for use of a chemical spray and no reports were submitted for use of batons.
There were four incidents in 2020 where Pueblo police shot and killed a suspect.
On March 1, law enforcement, including a sheriff’s deputy and a Pueblo police officer shot and killed 35-year-old Joshua Russell of Pueblo in the city’s North Side after he was allegedly involved in a carjacking, a short pursuit, and the attempted armed theft of two more cars along U.S. Highway 50.
On May 15, police located a stolen vehicle at the corner of Fourth Street and Reading Avenue. Police killed Robert Avila, 31, of Pueblo, after he allegedly dragged an officer a short distance with his vehicle. A woman, who was a passenger, was injured. That incident happened about 2 a.m.
On June 23, a 43-year-old manwas shot and killed by police after he allegedly pointed a weapon at officers. He was identified as Kevin Pulido and was reportedly shot by three officers.
On Aug. 12, a woman was killed by police after an alleged armed home invasion on Pueblo’s West Side. She was identified as Lyana Gilmore, 48, of Pueblo.
Separately, on March 14, a Pueblo County sheriff’s deputy shot and killed 20-year-old Jesse Cedillo of Pueblo after he allegedly ran toward an officer while armed in the Mesa Junction on the 300 block of Quincy Street.
PPD's Internal Affairs division also reported that there were 23 citizen complaints regarding officer conduct. Six of the complaints were sustained assufficient evidence was found that a policy violation occurred, a result that could lead to disciplinary actions in the department for the specific officers.
Drive-by shootings in Pueblo surge in 2020
For the first time, data from the FBI Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force was also presented in the annual report. The statistics stated Pueblo was the scene of 161 drive-by shootings, in addition to 45 shootings; 226 gang-related case reports, four of which were gang-related homicides; and 979 reports of shots fired.
According to the 2020 annual report,Pueblo police saw a "surge in drive-by shootings during 2020."
"Extensive, complex investigations occurred that led to multiple guns recovered and arrests for attempted murder," the report continued.
Pueblo detectives working in the ATFGun Task Forcewere able to trace 264 firearms during 2020, in addition to submitting 311 shell casings and 244 firearm test-fires to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations during the year.
The department also contains a Tactical Services Group comprised of the Crisis Negotiation Team and Special Weapons and Tactics Team. During the course of the year, the group handled 55 missions. Those missions were 28 proactive responses for civil protests, 18 high-risk search/arrest warrants, seven barricaded suspects, one dignitary protection and one weapons buy-bust.
The Pueblo Police Departmentis the highest funded department in the city
The Pueblo Police Department claims by far the largest chunk of the Pueblo city budget, with the 2020 allocated budget amounting to $31.67 million, up from $30.29 million.
Out of that,$29,573,900 is allocated to personnel and$2,009,147 is set asidefor the operating budget.
The operating budget includes the department's training and education, the academy for new police recruits, repair and maintenance, ammunition and telephone service, among other items. The highest expenses in the department's operating budget are fleet repair and fueling, amounting to a total estimated cost of $721,710 in 2020.
The personnel budget supports the 115 patrol officers, 55 corporals, 25 sergeants, eight captains, three deputy chiefs and the chief of police, in addition to 24 dispatchers for 911 and 12 records technicians. Administrative wages amount to $1.54 million of that budget, while police service wages amount to $13.70 million. General service wages are another $2.77 million.
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Out of those personnel, two are assigned as detectives in the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Gun Task Force and twodetectives are assigned to work with the FBI's Southern Colorado Safe Streets Task Force. During the course of the year, the four detectives concentrated on violent street crimes and career criminals.
Chieftain reporter Heather Willard can be reached via email at hwillard@chieftain.com.
