Help BW investigate Joint Terrorism Task Forces

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Boulder City Council approved a motion allowing the Boulder Police Department (BPD) to enter a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The JTTF will allow the FBI to share high-clearance information, additional emergency response resources and new investigation technologies with BPD to address terrorism threats.

However, during the public hearing, community members overwhelmingly opposed the motion. Representing organizations such as NAACP Boulder County, Boulder Showing Up for Racial Justice, and United Campus Workers Colorado, many expressed concerns around accountability and transparency of the JTTF, as well as the FBI’s history with civil rights abuses such as surveilling without reasonable suspicion, targeting peaceful protestors, and profiling people based on their religion, national origin, and political beliefs.

Boulder Weekly is researching JTTFs around the country for an article that will detail how these partnerships work and why some cities have chosen to end their JTTF partnerships. As such, we’re committed to digging into how Boulder’s JTTF partnership arose and what the communications about the JTTF looked like before and after the Feb. 1 public hearing.

But, as is often the case in Colorado, the price tag associated with accessing these documents is high: $700 (we're asking for a little extra to cover GoFundMe processing fees). Like other small businesses, BW has had to become exceptionally frugal in order to employ the journalists, production team, delivery drivers and other staff that ensure you get quality, local, in-depth news every week.

So, we're asking the community to help us pay the City's fee to collect the documents. To be clear: We have no idea what the documents will uncover, how many of them there are, and what will and won't be redacted. Based on conversations with the community, we know that accessing these records would serve a public good. No money collected in this drive will go toward anything other than the records request fee. If we don't raise the required amount, all donations will be returned in full.

Please click through to learn more and donate if you can.