Photo by BRIAN LEHMANN / Special to the Rocky
A helicopter flies over downtown Denver as part of a U.S. Department of Justice training exercise, according to Denver police. Several helicopters were part of the exercise and would occasionally land and then take off again from the roof of the 1999 Broadway building.
Black Hawk helicopters rattle downtown
'Routine' activity part of training for war on terror
By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Originally published 12:05 a.m., June 17, 2008
Updated 09:55 a.m., June 17, 2008
Black Hawk helicopters buzzed downtown Denver and other neighborhoods Monday evening in a training exercise to prepare for a possible terrorist attack.
The flights had people all over town calling authorities to find out what was going on.
"It's nothing more than Special Operations Command training with local authorities," said Lt. Nathan Potter, with Special Operations Command, which has authority over special forces from all branches of the military.
Potter would not say which branch of the military was flying the choppers over Denver.
The training has nothing to do with preparations for the Democratic National Convention, which will be held in Denver in August, Potter said.
"It's routine preparation for the global war on terrorism," he said.
Several Black Hawk helicopters were seen flying low near Coors Field during a home game of the Colorado Rockies.
Denver police received a number of calls about the helicopters.
"We've gotten quite a few calls, but it's a training exercise that the DPD is involved in, and there's nothing going on," said a Denver police dispatcher. "The vast majority of people, after we tell them what's going on, they say, 'Oh, OK.' "
Potter said the exercise will be taking place off and on in the city for the rest of the week.
The exercises will be conducted in the afternoon to evening hours, but he could not reveal any other details about the training due to its sensitive nature.
"The media will not be allowed to cover this training or conduct any interviews with those involved in the exercise," said Potter.
He said that Special Operations Command has been conducting similar exercises in other cities as well.
If you have photos or videos of the helicopters in action Monday night, please e-mail to photoed@rockymountainnews.com
Click on the title to read other Rocky Mountain News story: Denver stocks up on pepper weapon
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
'Routine' Black Hawks? Yeh, Right
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