DENVER — Colorado State Patrol officials say a local security company has been operating vehicles equipped with red-and-blue emergency lights while registering those vehicles out of state in Montana, a practice that investigators say may violate Colorado law and has alarmed workers, residents and former company employees.
Allegations, oversight and public concerns
Denver7 Investigates spent weeks tracking vehicles tied to Denver Metro Security at construction and traffic-control sites across the Denver metropolitan area. Investigators found cars displaying Montana license plates with mounted red-and-blue lights in use while company personnel directed traffic near work zones.
Colorado State Patrol told Denver7 that the use of red-and-blue emergency lighting by the company was improper and that registering vehicles out of state raises additional legal concerns. The patrol's comments followed interviews with former employees and residents who said the practice created confusion and a sense that the company was attempting to assume law-enforcement authority.
Voices from the field
Former contractors described a workplace where officers wore uniforms and armed staff attempted to control traffic while using conspicuous emergency-style lighting. One former contractor, Kevin Heely, said he left the company after 10 years and flagged what he viewed as false or misleading claims about the firm's permissions.
"Somebody's got to bring this to light," said Kevin Heely, a former contractor who worked for Denver Metro Security for a decade.
Former sales director Dwight Berry told investigators that clients and the public had been misled about the company's authority and practices. Arvada resident Jordan Shaw said he was alarmed after he photographed a vehicle with Montana plates using red-and-blue lights while a uniformed person conducted traffic control with a belt and a gun.
Company response and managerial claims
In prior interviews with Denver7, Denver Metro Security's operations manager, Nate Boyd, said the company had permission to use the lights and that some vehicles were rented from Montana. Those statements prompted current and former employees to come forward with conflicting accounts about what permissions existed and how the company's vehicles were registered.
Why out-of-state registration matters
Investigators emphasized that displaying emergency lights and registering vehicles in another state can complicate enforcement and oversight. When vehicles operate under out-of-state registration, it can be harder for local authorities to track ownership and to determine whether the equipment on those vehicles complies with Colorado regulations.
- Public safety concerns: Emergency lighting can mislead motorists into yielding to private personnel or assuming official law-enforcement authority.
- Regulatory ambiguity: Out-of-state registration may obscure which state’s vehicle- and equipment-safety rules apply and who is responsible for enforcement.
- Worker protection: Properly authorized traffic control is intended to protect construction workers and motorists; unauthorized practices may increase risks on work sites.
What investigators documented
Denver7 Investigates reported multiple instances where Montana-plated cars were on scene providing traffic control. The reporting included photographic documentation submitted by residents and video gathered by the newsroom during its weeks-long review.
| Item | What Denver7 reported |
|---|---|
| Vehicle registration | Montana license plates on cars operating in Denver metro |
| Lighting | Red-and-blue emergency-style lights in use |
| Company | Denver Metro Security |
| Agency comment | Colorado State Patrol: lights used without proper permitting, violative of state law (per reporting) |
Next steps and public guidance
Colorado State Patrol's statements and the interviews conducted by Denver7 have prompted scrutiny of Denver Metro Security's practices. For residents concerned about similar activity, investigators and law enforcement generally recommend documenting the incident — including license-plate numbers, photographs and the time and location — and reporting concerns to local police or the state patrol so they can investigate potential violations.
The reporting prompted current and former employees to speak publicly about what they described as misleading information conveyed to clients and the public. The situation highlights broader questions about how private security firms equip and operate their fleets, and how cross-jurisdictional vehicle registration can affect local oversight.
WE NEWS will continue to follow developments, including any responses from Denver Metro Security, further statements from Colorado State Patrol, and any enforcement actions or clarifications that arise from the investigation.
