City of Aurora to Undertake Comprehensive Review of Police
Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly and Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson released a statement August 11 stating the city of Aurora will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the Aurora Police Department and internal affairs.
The Aurora Police Department are working with 21CP Solutions, a global firm of specialists in public safety and civil rights. 21CP conducted a comprehensive review of the Yale Police Department (YPD) in 2019. Their mission statement reads, “to help law enforcement agencies and communities effectively tackle the challenges of delivering safe, effective, and constitutional policing in the 21st Century.”
The comprehensive review of the department by 21CP will include 12 main areas of scrutiny: community policing and their present engagement; analysis of current policies and practices in respect to use of force; discriminatory policing, misconduct, and accountability; the examination of stops, searches, and arrests; evaluation of the recruitment, hiring, and retention processes. Investigation of integration with vulnerable populations, and crisis intervention and interactions with individuals experiencing behavioral health changes.
Twombly says, “We must serve the Aurora community in a way that recognizes and honors our diversity. That requires us taking a hard look at how we do things in order to build an agency that the community trusts. These changes are of the utmost urgency to the city, and most importantly, the community.”
One of their main recommendations for change was the YPD’s “infrequent” use of force. It reads, “YPD should focus on strengthening, improving, and reforming some of its day-to-day operations and practices to align with 21st Century policing principles, best practices, and the specific needs of the Yale and New Haven communities.”
Source: Philadelphia Police Department Use of Force Decision Chart
An external, independent investigation of the Elijah McClain case is currently overseen by Johnathan Smith, the executive director of the Washington’s Lawyer Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
Wilson said, “We embrace this opportunity for change and are committed to evolve for the betterment of our profession, our community, and the residents we serve. Law enforcement is being evaluated across the nation, and we want to ensure that our entire community feels that APD is an agency that shows dignity and respect and can be a role model for 21st Century policing. We will strive daily to regain the trust in our community. I believe this review, along with actionable policy and training changes, is a good first step.”
The Community Police Task Force has been tasked with assessing current police operations and procedures while making recommendations. Educators, leaders, and activists, the community of faith, organizers for police reform, NAACP, and members of the Aurora Key Response Team make up the task force.
Photo by Justine Johnson
