While crime has been rising across the state, Colorado Springs has seen a decline in crime since 2010, a recent analysis by the Common Sense Institute shows.

Former Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen presented crime data Tuesday comparing Colorado Springs crime trends and investments to Denver statistics as part of a panel of experts who presented on community issues such as education achievement and local government spending. The data came from a report he recently authored as a fellow for the nonpartisan institute that leans right. 

The crime stats seem to fall in line with investment by Colorado Springs, he said. The town dedicates the largest share of its budget to the police department, which has received an average of 32.6% of the budget from 2013 to 2023, his report shows. Spending on the police department peaked in 2020 when they received 38% of the budget, his data shows. 

“They have prioritized their police department and those uniform positions,” he said. 

Denver’s spending on its police department has fallen from 13% of its budget in 2013 to 10.3% in 2021, his report shows. 

At the same time Colorado Springs has seen its crime rate fall 15.9% between 2010 and 2022 and Denver has seen a rise of 32%, Pazen said. 

Denver may be boosting its spending on policing significantly in 2024, with an infusion of $8.2 million to hire 167 new police officers, Mayor Mike Johnston’s budget letter shows. 

Colorado Springs has been adding police positions regularly in recent years and has the funding for 818, but hiring has lagged. 

Mayor Yemi Mobolade is proposing 4% cost of living raises for officers in next year’s budget.

Residents will also consider setting aside $5 million in taxes collected above the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap for a new police training academy. The new building would likely cost far more. 

Pazen backed spending on training, especially scenario-based training that could help police officers learn appropriate responses to difficult situations. 

“It is one the most complex professions that there is,” he said.