AURORA | Protests continue at Aurora City Council meetings following the decision by the Aurora Police Department to clear Officer Michael Dieck in the fatal shooting of Kilyn Lewis, an unarmed Black man, during a May 23 arrest.
The department’s Force Review Board supported the ruling, which follows a district attorney’s decision not to press charges. The shooting has sparked months of protests and criticism, highlighting ongoing tensions between law enforcement and the community, especially people of color.
Dieck was returned to duty earlier in the month, but did not return to the SWAT unit he was assigned to when he shot Lewis in an Aurora apartment parking lot. Dieck has been assigned to the police department’s Electronic Support Section, according to police.
Lewis was wanted on a warrant to face charges for first-degree attempted murder for shooting an unarmed man in Denver earlier this year in May. Police said Lewis was also connected to another shooting from inside his moving car.
Aurora police have for the past few years been targets for protests after several high-profile cases of city police abusing and sometimes killing people of color they come in contact with. The most high-profile was the death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed Black man stopped by police in 2019 as he was walking home from a convenience store.
Lewis’ family, activists and community members have been vocal in their criticism of how the police and city administrators have handled the shooting of Kilyn. Speaking at a council meeting Nov. 18, Keyron Lewis, Kilyn’s brother, expressed forgiveness but condemned the lack of accountability.
“This officer should have never got back on the force and should be serving (jail time),” he said.
The family called the decision “hollow and cruel” and said it widens the divide between the police and the community.
Activist MiDian Shofner criticized city council members for their silence and lack of engagement with the family.
“None of the council members have been intentional in reaching out to the family,” Shofner said. “If the council is going to continue to try to be silent, we are going to continue to demand that they speak up.”
Shofner emphasized that the movement for justice extends beyond this specific case.
“Kilyn has a legacy, and that’s something that does not slow down. It does not stop. It is a forever moment for us,” she said.
The decision to clear Dieck has reignited scrutiny of his past involvement in a controversial 2021 incident where excessive force was used on a suspect. Though Dieck’s actions were deemed “objectively reasonable” at the time, the case adds to community concerns about systemic issues within the department.
Protesters vowed to continue pressuring city leaders for action and reform.
“We are expecting leaders to lead differently because we’ve been here before,” Shofner said. “Now it’s time for us to see leaders who understand what it means to be impossible. We need impossible leadership right now.”
A previously convicted felon was justifiably shot while resisting arrest from officers executing a new warrant for attempted murder. The felon failed to follow repeated police direction and pulled something from his back pocket. A facing officer, fearing the felon was drawing a weapon, fired in self-defense. The officer was investigated at several levels and was cleared of charges. Activists continue to protest in hopes of obtaining a financial settlement from the city. May God have mercy on his soul.
100% agreed. This guy was a menace to society and clearly too stupid to follow the directions of the officers arresting him for the warrant. The city shouldn’t pay a cent to his family, for the police did nothing wrong. Perhaps they can use their protest energy to teach their children how to behave like normal kids and not get in trouble with the law in the first place.
BTW, ALL (innocent) LIVES MATTER!!!
That landwhale Tay Anderson needs to come to grips with the fact that it’s not 2020.
Given them a break. If they don’t make enough noise, the ghetto lottery winner won’t be able to collect. And if that happens, the loss of life will be for nothing (other than the overall benefit to society as a whole, anyway).
Wow the racist misinformed comments from your readers are out of control the man has a cell phone and was crouching down to be taken into custody so let’s start there and as one of the protesters who believes all lives matter but is concerned that black lives don’t it’s heartbreaking to see a city that celebrates diversity it cringy that we are still divided.
Trust is earned, not given.