AURORA | A veteran Aurora Police canine officer is still recovering from stab injuries he received while responding to a mental health crisis, during which the officer fatally shot a 23-year-old Black man, according to Aurora police.
The Aurora police said Tuesday that Officer Mark Moore remains hospitalized and “has not yet been able to be interviewed by investigators due to the severity of his injuries and ongoing medical treatment.”
Moore was injured April 9 when he responded to a call at an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle, after Aurora Mental Health clinicians stated a 23-year-old man was experiencing a mental health crisis and threatening to harm himself and others in the home.
The man was later identified by family members in an interview with 9News as Amare Garlington.
Police and mental health clinicians spoke with Garlington on the afternoon of April 9 for about 20 minutes, attempting to de-escalate the situation. Police said Garlington then exited his apartment and ran at Moore and his canine with a butcher knife.
Aurora police said Moore released his dog, Cyrus, and Garlington stabbed the dog and then attacked Moore, stabbing him in the head. During the attack, part of the knife broke off in Moore’s head.
Other officers on scene deployed less-lethal weapons, including a 40mm launcher, but they weren’t effective. Moore fired “several rounds,” striking Garlington and killing him, police said.
Body camera footage has not been released and Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said it would be shared after Moore provides his statement to investigators. The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into the shooting and the Aurora police is conducting a parallel administrative review.
“This is a terrible and tragic situation for everyone involved, including our officer, his family, our department and this community, as well as the young man who lost his life and his family,” Chamberlain said in Tuesday’s update.
Chamberlain said Moore’s “road to recovery remains uncertain,” but he’s made progress. The dog received emergency veterinary care and is expected to make a full recovery.
“We continue to think of Mark and his family during this time, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the department,” he said.
Chamberlain said police have become “a default, catch-all” for mental health crisis response and need more support to address the state’s growing mental health issues.
“If we want different outcomes, we need sustainable mental health infrastructure and long-term care, not just short-term contact,” he said.
Garlington’s family members told 9News that they’ve repeatedly tried to get him help for his mental health — he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 19 — and that he attempted suicide by cop in 2022.
Garlington’s mother, Michelle Garcia, described him as kind, loving, smart and quiet.
Garcia said when Garlington was in crisis on April 9, she tried to get him help at a mental health facility but was turned away. She told 9News that she doesn’t understand how her son didn’t qualify for a mental health hold.
Garcia said she hopes the officer recovers and that mental health supports are expanded so people can access the treatment they need.
“People lose their lives, officers are injured. You know, the poor canine, it’s just, it’s not fair for anybody. There’s so many victims just because our system will not help people. It needs to change,” Garcia said. “Something has got to change.”
Why do you continue to highlight the race of the man who was shot by the officer? It has no bearing on the incident. It appears you’re trying to inject controversy into an incident that was clearly a justified use of lethal force by the officer.
100% agree with Chief Chamberlain.
Where is the f___king oversight of the mental health organization that abjectly FAILED here? Who is stepping up and taking ownership for this failure? I hear nothing but crickets.
Also, the Sentinal is playing the race card. Why exactly? Unless you have actual evidence that race contributed to the decision to withhold treatment, you are inciting racial tensions with absolutely zero cause. This isn’t journalism.
Sincere thanks to the injured officer and his dog. You shouldn’t suffer serious injury because our mental health system is so badly run by overpaid bureaucrats who are rarely held accountable.
Prayers for this officer and his K9. The true story is certainly a far cry from the cop-hater activist narrative spewed at the city council meeting.