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Supporting the Call for Independent Oversight in the Case of Jax Gratton

  • Writer: RMEQ
    RMEQ
  • Aug 8
  • 2 min read

Below is a letter sent to Lakewood and Jefferson County officials urging them to form an independent oversight committee to review the investigation process and ensure justice for Jax Gratton.


If you would like to show your support, join community members at the Lakewood City Council Meeting on Monday, August 11 at 6:30pm.


Location: 480 S. Allison Pkwy, Lakewood, CO



Lakewood City Council Members and Jefferson County Commissioners:


I am writing in my capacity as Chief Operating Officer of Rocky Mountain Equality, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit that supports communities across Colorado through programming, services, and advocating for policies that ensure LGBTQ+ people, families, and communities thrive. I will be in attendance at the Lakewood City Council meeting on Monday, but do not intend to speak. I am sharing this prior to the meeting to make our position clear. 


Jax Gratton should be alive today. While nothing can be done to undo her death, the Lakewood City Council and Jefferson County Commissioners have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to do the right thing and form an independent oversight committee to review the investigation process and ensure justice for Jax. The request for an independent oversight committee is a deeply reasonable request for transparency and accountability and must be granted. 


Jax’s family deserves answers. The Lakewood community and the trans community deserve answers. Trans people and their families have much to be afraid of now and deserve to know that their local governments will do the right thing.


The Lakewood Police Department has reached out in the last few weeks to Rocky Mountain Equality and requested training and resources. Our organization has been providing training to public safety agencies for years and believe that training for law enforcement officers is a powerful way to help protect LGBTQ+ people and to promote community trust and safety. However, training alone will never be enough and does not begin to repair the breach of trust that has occurred in Jax’s case. 


Any plans for future training should not be used as a reason to not form an independent oversight committee at this time. Once the independent committee has completed its work we will be glad to provide any training and resources possible to the Lakewood Police Department. 


In sadness and in solidarity with Jax’s family and community,


Bruce Parker

Chief Operating Officer

Rocky Mountain Equality

 
 
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