AURORA | A federal investigation into the city’s lack of diversity on the police and fire departments has wrapped up after four years with no action against the city, Mayor Steve Hogan announced May 6.
The Civil Rights Division of The United States Department of Justice announced in July 2009 that it was looking into Aurora’s public safety hiring practices in a city where about 40 percent of the population is black or Hispanic, but the police and fire departments are more than 80 percent white males.
At the time, DOJ said investigators would look into “whether the city is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against blacks and or Hispanics with respect to employment in police officer and firefighter positions.” Possible sanctions against the city could have included fines.
On Monday, Hogan said the investigation had concluded and the city wouldn’t face any punishment.
Hogan said in a statement that investigators were likely impressed with changes Aurora has already made in its hiring procedures aimed at improving the fairness of the process.
One of the biggest changes, Hogan said, was the implementation of video-based examinations to rank candidates, replacing traditional written examinations.
“I am pleased the Department of Justice did not find a basis to take action against the city based on our employment practices,” Hogan said in the statement. “We have taken great strides to improve our process, but the work is not done. Rest assured that Aurora will continue to look for additional ways to improve and ensure that equal opportunity is always at the forefront of the hiring process.”