AURORA | Aurora and four other Adams County cities filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the county asking a judge to force the sheriff to allow more city inmates at the county jail.
The lawsuit, which was filed in Adams County District Court, is the latest flare up between cities, particularly Aurora, and Sheriff Doug Darr about housing inmates from municipal courts in the county jail. Citing staffing issues, Darr in 2011, capped the number of municipal inmates at 30, well below the more than 100 previously allowed at the jail.
According to a joint statement from the five cities who filed the lawsuit — Aurora, Commerce City, Thornton, Federal Heights and Northglenn — the cities want a judge to compel Darr to accept municipal inmates.
The statement said Aurora, which remains the only city to have an inmate turned away from the jail, is also seeking monetary damages, though it didn’t specify how much.
Adams County Attorney Heidi Miller said she had not yet seen the lawsuit so she could not comment.
City officials, however, contend that many of those inmates are dangerous and that because Aurora taxpayers pay for the jail, the city should be allowed to use it as needed.
Aurora inmates sentenced in district or county court are still housed at the jail, but those offenses tend to be more serious.
Since the cap took effect, which limits Aurora to just four Adams County inmates from municipal court at any given time, Aurora has relied on Denver to house the overflow inmates.
Last year Aurora inmates spent the city spent more than 2,500 nights in Denver’s jail at a cost of more than $134,000. The city has since entered agreements with Broomfield and Douglas counties to house inmates there.
Why is the city of Aurora supporting Chief Oates’ cut throat conduct towards Sheriff Darr and Adams County?
Why don’t you negotiate instead of litigate? Surely Adams County knows what the daily rate is to house inmates. Both Adams and Aurora will know what we paid for and what we actually used.
Do a little math and both parties can agree on a credit to be applied to this years bill for Aurora. Is there no business acumen anywhere to be found around here?
Why is our Chief of Police embroiled in lawsuits and discord with our officers and now, another county?
Is Sheriff Darr’s concern for staff safety such a foreign concept to Chief Oates these days or what?
Get it together people!
Chief Otes is not related to the law suit. The Aurora Citizens pay for that jail to be built and also pay taxes to keep it. This Sheriff is making unilateral policies to reject Aurora inmates. According to the Denver Post anyone can be rejected except Domestic cases. Now if someone stole your car and instead of going to the county who never sends anyone to jail, it goes to the city and they get prosecuted and sentenced to 6 month jail the Sheriff can cut him loose. How would you feel about that? Sheriff Darr was told to hire more deputies and given permission to give more over time if needed to his officers. He hasn’t done anything. He is no different than Obama who took an oath of office to “defend and enforce” the laws and unilaterally has decided to pick and choose what laws to enforce and defend. It is not about negotiations it is about doing the right thing after they took an oath!
Well Loco, it’s the chiefs that are complaining. Oates is a lawyer by degree so, I’d bet he rallied the other chief’s and thus, a lawsuit was born.
If someone stole my car in Aurora, I’d be shocked if that person was caught much less prosecuted. Know why? Because we don’t have enough cops to handle all the crime around here.
Oates is no different than Obama either. In fact, he adores the man. Now I’m thinking Oates met his match in Darr.
What are your thoughts on burglaries that magically become reclassified as tresspassing just to drive the official numbers down on burglaries? Isn’t that a pick and choose situation too?
Frankly, the citizens of Aurora are hard pressed to find anyone who does the right thing these days.
Yes, Blame the DAs who do that I have seen the police in Aurora dropping a charge to a municipal misdemeanor just because the prosecutors in Aurora will seek and usually get actual jail to the perpetrators. Go and seat like i have done with my students in a court house in aurora and you will see how many people they send to jail for crimes!!
What do you teach?
Criminal Procedure, Constitutional Law and Comparative Law (summer classes)! Yes I will stick to teaching!!!
A day of a school excurison does give you the smarts of what is reallly going on….stay a teacher of children sounds like your brighter in that field.
I am a licensed attorney! Although some of my students behave like children most of them have already completed undergraduate studies before they get to me!
Who are you and what are you saying???
I agree 100% on both idiots. …
John Gotti and ODUMMA
Oh yes, in time he is or will make himself a part of this. He is a snake with a narcisstic personality.
I missed the part where I offended anyone! However just because I am conservative and hold people to their oaths I get called “narcisstic” which I assumed meant to be narcissistic. Do you realized that name calling doesn’t make your point more valid? You guys opine and opine but you don’t know what you are talking about. This time you happened to come across an individual that knows waaaaaaay more law than you ever will be able to comprehend. Stay tuned to CNN and the like and leave the great legal arguments to the people who know! the law suit BENEFITS everyone in Aurora BECAUSE all Aurora Citizens have paid a lot of money to other jurisdictions (about 140 000) because the Sheriff ILLEGALLY refuses to house Aurora prisoners. They got it right sue the sheriff and get reimbursed and return the money to the PEOPLE of Aurora who paid for it!!!!! Enough said!!!
Get over your self…its a discussion web site you will read worse of the people wanting to run it, and this is when you have to grin and take it. We are concerned about who is running this City, and the Police Department these are the real criminals …..not the street criminals.
If you know how to read? I said, “HE”, as in Oates is a narcisstic controlling police CHIEF, NOT YOU LOCO. I don’t know you, so why would I say that about you?
I know the chief and he is as crooked, as they come.
If you re-read it again it might help you.
Ok…take a good look at the people you elected….we the taxpayers shouldn’t have to hear a story about cities suing cities…these are elected officials that their job is to resolve problems in benefit to the public….but apparently they can’t…..it doesn’t matter what the excuse is….their job and their not doing it…VOTE THEM OUT and vote people in that don’t let it get to this point…PERIOD.
I agree! It’s time for a complete turn over.
I can’t believe they are focusing on becoming a sister city and they can’t get along with neighboring cities.
Ashley, the word at AMC is the first week of April ….open and please come. I will confirm with you as we get closer bring popcorn when gotti is on stand.
Be sure and let the street officers know the date, time and place too Sassy!
Oh. I will get the word out to as many as I can, that I promise. I pray this gets him fired! In a matter of time, his number is up.
GOD..that monster can’t be around to much longer. He his looking elsewhere to be chief, that I know but until then he will leave a mess. There will be a suprise person to testify willingly, he said to Chris today.
Thanks for support and hubby with attorney have a STRONG CASE.
Be there and you to spread the word once I have the exact date and time. We have been through hell maybe now it will pay off for us…especially hubby.
He is a great person in everyway, sure some don’t like him but they don’t sign his checks. Your wisdom and strong support with knowledge we need so desperately. Thank you!!!!