Denver Police Apparently Don’t Think Accessible Parking Laws Apply to Them

On February 24, 2020, at the office building of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (“CCDC), Colorado’s only statewide organization run by and for people with disabilities, including its Civil Rights Legal Program, a Denver Police Department vehicle parked illegally in an access aisle. CCDC is located at Empire Park at 1385 Colorado Boulevard, Denver, Colorado. Kevin Williams who is an attorney and who uses a wheelchair and drives the blue van with a side-loading wheelchair ramp that is pictured above has practiced in the area of civil rights law for people with disabilities for 22 years.

The Current Cases and Past Cases that have been brought by the Civil Rights Legal Program during this time can be found on CCDC’s website. He and his legal team have brought numerous civil rights cases against government entities, private businesses of all kinds such as restaurants, sports venues, shopping malls and many more, housing providers and other entities covered by civil rights laws to help enforce the law for people with disabilities who cannot afford attorneys.

Many of these cases have been brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The Legal Program has been involved in and remains involved in numerous civil rights investigations on behalf of its members throughout Colorado and works with attorneys both in the state and nationwide to end discrimination against people with disabilities. The Legal Program has received numerous awards for its work helping people with disabilities achieve the objectives of the ADA which is now almost 30 years old.

See Full Press Release: Denver Police Apparently Don’t Think Accessible Parking Laws Apply to Them

Media Update on 3/5/2020 at 10:12.

Fox 31 KDVR:

The Denver Police Department has issued an apology after an officer was photographed parking in a handicap spot during an emergency call.

That handicap-accessible spot happened to be in front of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, which specializes in advocating for those with disabilities.

Photos show the officer taking up a portion of the handicap spot as well as the majority of the “access aisle,” used by many at the building to get in and out of vehicles.

“The law says you can’t stop, stand, or park in the access aisle,” said Legal Program Director Kevin Williams. “Nevertheless, the Denver police vehicle was parked in that access aisle.”

Williams says he frequently receives complaints regarding police vehicles parking in accessible spots.

His van, parked next to the police vehicle shown in the photo, is specially equipped with a ramp to get in and out of the passenger door.

Read the entire article and watch the video here:

Denver officer photographed blocking handicap spot at disability advocates’ headquarters