DENVER, Colo -- In a meeting of the Downtown Denver Residents Organization, the main topic this week was public safety.

Following two fatal shootings, a handful of residents and business owners met Tuesday night to ask police questions and brainstorm solutions.

In spite of police assurances that the recent crimes were random and not a trend, people questioned the District 6 Commander about gangs and drugs in downtown.

Susan Wright, a former downtown resident whose husband runs a business downtown, said she routinely sees drug deals on the 16th Street Mall.

“How did we get into this situation where police seem to turn a blind eye to what’s going on in front of them?” she asked.

Cmdr. Deborah Dilley told her she wants to know about these problems and encouraged Wright to call her in the future.

The conversation made Wright feel better about the direction of public safety downtown.

"Understanding and talking about it helps residents and business people downtown get a better feeling about what's going on," she said.

The group also discussed more surveillance cameras.

Dilley said Denver police are adding more cameras all over the city, and that they’re researching one city’s law that requires bars install cameras inside and outside to get licensed.

John Malsanik, DDRO board president, said he hopes the increased interest in public safety continues along with communication between residents and police.