The Denver Police Spy Files

At a news conference on March 11, 2002, the ACLU of Colorado disclosed documents that show that the Denver Police Department has been monitoring and recording the peaceful protest activities of Denver-area residents and keeping files on the expressive activities of law-abiding advocacy organizations, many of which are falsely labeled in the files as "criminal extremist." These documents have become known as the Denver Policy Spy Files, and they led to a class action lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Colorado.

Learn about the Case

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) filed a class action lawsuit challenging the Denver Police Department's practice of monitoring and recording the peaceful protest activities of Denver-area residents, keeping files on the expressive activities of law-abiding advocacy organizations, and sharing those files with third parties. The lawsuit, American Friends Service Committee v. City and County of Denver, was filed in Denver District Court. Learn more about the case, including reading court documents.

Follow the Chronology

The news conference announcing the discovery of the Spy Files was just the beginning. In the two years that followed, the ACLU of Colorado employed a variety of methods to get the Denver Police Department to stop the practice of monitoring and recording peaceful protests of Denver-area residents. Read the entire narrative chronology to learn more about the process of fighting for your freedoms.

Access the Spy Files

Our investigation and case unearthed spy files dating back to the 1980's. These files revealed the monitoring and recording done by the Denver Police Department and exposed two other enties involved in questionable political intelligence practices: the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and the Multi-Agency Group Intelligence Conference (MAGIC). See the spy files for yourself.

Read Files from the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)

In connection with the litigation over the Denver Police Department's Spy Files, the ACLU of Colorado obtained documents that indicate that the FBI's Joint Terrorist Task Force (JTTF) has been gathering information and building files on the activities of peaceful protesters who have no connection to terrorism or any other criminal activity. Read files from the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

View Documents from the Multi-Agency Group Intelligence Conference (MAGIC)

Documents obtained by the ACLU from the Denver Police Spy Files litigation reveal that intelligence officers from at least two dozen Colorado law enforcement agencies meet to swap political intelligence information at bimonthly meetings of a little-known organization known as the Multi-Agency Group Intelligence Conference (MAGIC).  Read the MAGIC documents yourself.

Get Your Questions Answered

Worried that you're included in the spy files? Want to know what "criminal extremist" means? Wondering what a "confidentiality order" is? We've got answers for you on some commonly asked questions about the Denver Police Spy Files. Read the Q&A.