Opinion: After downtown stabbings, Polis must turn his rhetoric on crime to action

Governor Jared Polis declared in his State of the State address, “We have zero tolerance for those who commit violent crimes whether they are American citizens or not.” He continued, “We welcome more federal help to detain and deport dangerous criminals.”

These are strong words, and on the surface, they echo the sentiments that every Coloradan longs to hear. But the truth is far more troubling. In reality, Colorado is facing a violent crime crisis that has had dire consequences. The governor’s bold rhetoric has yet to translate into the kind of action our communities desperately need to protect their most basic right — safety.

This issue is not just political; it is personal. Just days ago, in downtown Denver, a man with a long criminal history — including assaults, thefts, and threats — was arrested after stabbing multiple people. The tragic deaths of Celinda Levno, 71, and Nicholas Burkett, 34, on January 11, 2025, serve as a heartbreaking reminder of the consequences of a broken system. While visiting the 16th Street Mall during a layover, Levno was brutally stabbed and so were Burkett and two other victims who survived.

The violence, carried out by 24-year-old Elijah Caudill, who had a history of violent crimes, highlights the deadly flaws in the pretrial release system. Caudill had been released from jail just months earlier without conditions after he had previously served time for a violent assault. His history of repeat offenses was ignored.

This tragedy reinforces the urgency of action — House Bill 25-1072 is crucial to ensuring repeat offenders like Caudill face proper consequences. Every day we delay, we risk more lives. The time to act is now.

Right now, the law fails to prevent repeat violent offenders from cycling in and out of the justice system. Under the current system, an individual accused of violent crime can secure release on an unsecured personal recognizance (PR) bond — a simple promise to appear in court and refrain from further criminal activity. That’s it. No real consequences, no meaningful oversight. And tragically, this broken system leaves our communities exposed to preventable harm, like the kind we witnessed in Denver.

House Bill 1072 is a simple but necessary solution. It would prevent individuals accused of violent crimes from being granted PR bonds if they have been convicted of a violent crime in the last two years or face two or more pending violent charges. We propose a minimum monetary bond of $7,500, ensuring these offenders have more accountability before they’re allowed back onto the streets. And, importantly, district attorneys would need to approve any unsecured PR bonds for these individuals. This bill will ensure violent offenders are held accountable before they have the chance to re-offend.

Governor Polis has declared his intention to make Colorado one of the safest states in the nation. But words alone will not get us there. House Bill 1072 gives the governor a real opportunity to back up his rhetoric with action that will make our communities safer. If he truly believes in his commitment to zero tolerance for violent offenders, supporting this bill is the natural next step.

This bill has earned bipartisan support because it is the right thing to do. Both Republicans and Democrats recognize the urgent need to strengthen Colorado’s pretrial release laws. And there is no significant fiscal cost — this is not a financial burden but a smart step toward protecting the public.

Every Coloradan deserves to feel safe in their community, knowing that violent criminals are not being allowed to walk free without meaningful checks on their behavior. The people of Colorado are tired of hearing promises without seeing results. We cannot allow repeat violent offenders to roam our streets unchecked, putting our families and neighbors at risk. Polis, the time to act is now. Publicly supporting House Bill 1072 will show the people of Colorado that their safety is not just a talking point, but a top priority.

Jarvis Caldwell represents state House District 20, which includes El Paso County. He is on the Judiciary, Education, and Legislative Audit committees. Byron H. Pelton represents state Senate District 1, which includes all or part of Logan, Morgan, Philips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, and Yuma counties. He is the Senate Minority Caucus Chair and sits on the Statutory Revision, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Legislative Council, Appropriations, State, Veterans, & Military Affairs, Capital Development Committee, and Transportation & Energy committees.

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