Members of the Aurora City Council have been actively working with the Aurora Police Department, city management, residents and community organizations to identify ways to improve trust and accountability in the Aurora Police Department and foster positive relationships between residents and police. In addition to existing efforts to facilitate communication such as the Aurora Key Community Response Team and the Community Policing Advisory Team, there are several initiatives underway:

Community Police Task Force

On Feb. 10, 2020, the Aurora City Council approved a resolution put forward by Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Johnston to establish a Community Police Task Force to evaluate, discuss and develop recommendations to improve effective and transparent communication between the Aurora Police Department and the community, including a potential resident-involved/resident-based review process of critical police incidents, operations, practices and procedures.

The final resolution is available online.

Applications

Applications were accepted through Feb. 21 from residents who would like to serve on the task force. The makeup of the task force is intended to be a cross-section of the community, with representatives from criminal justice, law enforcement, community organizations, neighborhood groups and other volunteers. Appointment of task force members and chairperson will go before City Council at an upcoming regular meeting.
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Community Meetings

The Aurora chapter of the NAACP, in coordination with members of the Aurora City Council, hosted a community meeting Dec. 10, 2019, facilitated by Dr. Ryan Ross. This listening session was intended to hear community voices, experiences and concerns and help inform an intentional process engaging with and creating change within the social justice practices within the city of Aurora. A summary of the meeting and comments can be read here.

From that feedback, follow-up work was identified, and the need for future meetings was established. Meetings include:

• Tuesday, March 10 - Community meeting with Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain - 6:30 to 8 p.m., Aurora Municipal Center, City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway; facilitated meeting by Dr. Ryan Ross, CEO of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado. At the meeting, community members will have the chance to hear from and ask questions of Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain, the city's ambulance provider. Presentations will cover EMS Response Model, Medical Protocols, Department Training Initiatives and Community Outreach. There will be a brief Q&A period following the presentation. For residents who would prefer not to attend a public meeting because of current public-health concerns, the meeting will be live-streamed at AuroraTV.org, and questions will be accepted by emailing communityrel@auroragov.org with the subject "March 10 meeting question." (Note: Questions submitted by email will be considered at the meeting as time allows; questions that are not answered at the meeting may receive a follow-up email reply, unless the subject was directly addressed by another question at the meeting.) For questions, call the Mayor and City Council Office at 303.739.7015. 
  
• Saturday, Feb. 29 - Know Your Rights workshop (conducted by ACLU) - 1 to 3 p.m., Beck Recreation Center, 800 Telluride St.
• Saturday, Feb. 15 - Bridges Beyond Trauma (partnering with Aurora Mental Health) - 10 a.m. to noon, Aurora Central Library, 14949 E. Alameda Parkway; free training to learn more about trauma and identify bridges beyond trauma. No RSVP needed. Questions: 720.220.2060 or event flyer
• Tuesday, Feb. 11 - Community meeting with Interim Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aurora Municipal Center, City Council Chamber, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway; facilitated meeting by Dr. Ryan Ross, CEO of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado. The meeting will cover topics of concern previously raised by the community, and the agenda includes:
  
  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Response to Community Questions
    • Training
    • Use of Force
    • Body Worn Cameras
    • Hiring and Discipline
    • Reduction of Crime
  • Q&A
    

Additional meetings are planned, and meeting times and dates will be posted here as they become available:

• Presentations and Q&A with 17th and 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Offices
• “Get to know your officer” events space for community to convene around topics deemed necessary