Imagine being labeled “involved” in a crime you never committed  and because of that single label, having your most private information released.

That is exactly what happened to me.

Last year, the Aurora Police Department and its Records Department released my personal and confidential information after incorrectly labeling me as “involved” in a criminal case. I was never suspected, never charged, and never connected to any crime. Yet that label alone was used to justify exposing my identity.

What was released was not minor. My full name, date of birth, phone numbers, home address, employment information and other confidential identifiers were disclosed without any redaction before release. Even more disturbing, my brother’s personal information and additional sensitive data were also released, despite the records being clearly marked confidential. These records were shared with victims, other agencies, and potentially the public.

No mandatory balancing test was performed.
No legitimate public interest was identified.
No safeguards were applied.

If a person is innocent, their personal identifiers are protected by law regardless of whether they are a minor or an adult. Innocence does not reduce privacy rights, and age does not determine whether those protections apply. Yet in this case, those protections were ignored.

This is the dangerous loophole that gives power to government agency's that has not been addressed until now:  if you witness a crime or part of a search warrant law enforcement can abuse there power by labeling an innocent person as “involved” is being used as justification to release personal identifiers, even when no crime was committed. That single label strips innocent people of privacy protections and allows sensitive information to be shared with victims, media, and other agencies without accountability.

After the damage was done, instead of correcting the disclosure or stopping further harm, the District Attorney’s Office told me to “file a motion with the court” or hire an attorney and seek counsel. In other words, an innocent person was told to pay legal fees and navigate the court system to fix harm caused by the government’s own failure to protect confidential information. This shifts responsibility and financial burden onto innocent people after their privacy has already been violated.

Once personal information is released, the harm is permanent. Records cannot be recalled. Exposure cannot be undone. And being told to file a motion does nothing to protect the next innocent person from the same outcome.

This is not just my story.

If this can happen to me and my family, it can happen to anyone. These practices are occurring not only in Aurora and Arapahoe County, but across Colorado and beyond. Releasing the identities of people who have committed no crime  without redaction and even after Documents are marked confidential  is an abuse of power and a systemic failure.

Privacy laws exist to protect innocent people. When agencies ignore those laws and then tell innocent people to clean up the aftermath in court, public trust collapses.

This petition demands accountability, reform, and enforcement of basic privacy protections so no one else loses their privacy simply because a label was applied and safeguards were ignored.

What This Petition Calls For

Independent Investigation and Accountability
How law enforcement is held accountable -  An independent investigation by an external oversight body (not internal affairs) into the Aurora Police Department and Records Department’s handling and release of personal and confidential information, including disclosures involving innocent individuals and family members. Findings must be made public, with corrective actions and disciplinary recommendations issued where violations are confirmed.

Required change -  Agencies must be subject to external review when privacy violations occur, ensuring transparency, accountability, and consequences for unlawful disclosures.

Mandatory, Enforceable Training for Records and Law-Enforcement Personnel
How law enforcement is held accountable -  Require documented, recurring training for all personnel involved in records creation, classification, and release. Training completion must be tracked, audited, and tied to performance evaluations.

Required change -  Training must specifically address redaction obligations, privacy protections for innocent adults, proper classification standards, and the legal consequences of mislabeling or improper disclosure.

Independent Oversight Before Public Disclosure
How law enforcement is held accountable - No personal or identifying information may be released to the public, victims, or the media without prior review and written approval by a records supervisor or designated privacy officer.

Required change - Agencies must implement a mandatory pre-release supervisory review process to prevent unilateral, automated, or convenience-based disclosures.

Strict Enforcement of Mandatory Balancing Tests
How law enforcement is held accountable - Require written documentation of the CCJRA balancing test for every discretionary disclosure, subject to audit and oversight.

Required change - No disclosure may proceed unless a documented determination shows that the public interest outweighs the substantial privacy interests of the individual. Supervisory sign-off must be required before release to the public, victims, or media.

Immediate Correction of Misclassification Practices
How law enforcement is held accountable - Require agencies to audit existing records and correct any instance where innocent or cleared individuals are inaccurately labeled as “involved.” Misclassification must be treated as a reportable records error with mandatory correction timelines.

Required change -  Agencies must adopt clear classification standards distinguishing suspects from witnesses, property owners, and uninvolved third parties. Innocent or cleared individuals may not be labeled “involved” without a factual and lawful investigative basis.

These reforms are required to enforce existing law, protect innocent individuals from permanent reputational harm, and restore public trust. Privacy protections under the CCJRA, the Colorado Constitution, and the United States Constitution are mandatory, not optional and must be enforced through oversight, training, and accountability.

Core Finding for the Petition
Continuing to label an innocent adult as “involved” after they have been cleared is unlawful. It violates due process, privacy protections, statutory balancing requirements, and Colorado’s Clean Slate framework. The harm is ongoing, non-retroactive, and cannot be cured by later correction.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for privacy rights and demanding accountability from law enforcement and records officials. This is about protecting innocent people and their families, restoring public trust, and stopping a practice that puts everyone at risk.

Please sign and share. Silence allows this to continue. Public action stops it and holds accountability from law enforcement and records officials