Gang activity and associated crime is a long-standing concern in Denver, Colorado.
The city's street gang activity received statewide attention in 1993 when a Summer of Violence increased public awareness of gang-related violence and led the state to enact harsh penalties for crime by juveniles.
From 1992 to 1995, Denver had 331 murders: 95 in 1992, 74 in 1993, and 81 each in 1994 and 1995 In 1997 The first Gang to ever be indicted out of Colorado was the West Side Ballerz Posse WSBP a Chicano gang that resided in West Denver & branched off in Adams county in cities such as Commerce, Thornton, Brighton, Westminster & other surrouIn 1996, members of the FBI's Metro Gang Task Force (“MGTF”) were investigating suspected gang-related drug activity in Denver, Colorado. Specifically, MGTF was investigating members of the West Side Ballerz Posse whom it suspected were selling controlled substances and engaging in gang-related violence. As part of this investigation, a series of wiretaps were authorized in late 1996 against suspected members of this drug conspiracy. Gang-related crime has continued, as shown by the New Year's Day 2007 drive-by shooting of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams by members of the Tre Tre Crips, an East Denver street gang.
The Crips in the city have several sub-sets such as Tre Deuce (DOD), Tre Foe, 35 Outlaws and the Tre Tre Gangstas.
In 2017, the city's police estimated that there were 38,000 gang members in Denver, affiliated with 220 gangs.
The Rollin 30s or Tre Tre Crips still have a powerful presence in the Denver area.
In 2017 there were an estimated 2000 Bloods and Crips from Denver.
These gangs are in various locations including Five Points, East Denver, Commerce City, Englewood, Aurora, North-East Park Hill and Federal Heights.
Crips and Bloods have been commonly sighted almost all over Denver, even in the suburbs outside the city.
