With so much attention across the nation — and even right here in Aurora — focused on the relationship between cops and civilians, the timing could not be better in hiring a new chief of police.
Four finalists are in Aurora this week to meet with city officials and the public. One will be selected to take the place of former Chief Dan Oates, who left for a position in Florida earlier this year.
A story by reporter Brandon Johansson appears in this week’s edition of the Aurora Sentinel, detailing the finalist’s biographies.
For almost all Aurora residents, this is the most important hire the city manager will make. The police chief has a great deal of power, influence and leeway in Aurora, essentially setting the tone for the very tenor of the community. The chief will guide Aurora on what kind of cops to hire, and how they’ll be trained. The chief will guide the often abrasive relationship between the police union and city management. The chief is responsible for determining what the focus of the department will be. But most important, the chief will determine what the relationship will be between Aurora’s vastly culturally and racially diverse community and those who enforce the laws.
Up to now, Aurora has enjoyed a long list of stellar police professionals who have not only held the bar high for those who want to practice policing here, but they’ve set a remarkable standard for the relationship between officers and members of the community.
Former Police Chief Dan Oates was instrumental in making sure a large community of illegal immigrants know that city police are not immigration officers and will not act in that capacity. It’s vital to ensure that immigrants aren’t driven underground to become victims of criminals who know they can accost these people without worry of being caught, creating an industry of immigrant crime.
Likewise, despite rare and isolated incidents, Aurora’s police agents are well trained and vetted in dealing with a wide range of cultures and races, many of whom are naturally skeptical of police.
The city’s next police chief doesn’t have to clean up a mess like in places in Florida, Missouri or Ohio, but the next chief must protect and build on the Aurora police department’s good reputation. The chief will be able to do that by being frank, honest and accountable to city council and the community. Above all, it’s vital the police department remain open and transparent about its officers and controversial encounters with the public.
Previously, this has been the department’s weak spot. The department prefers to handle controversial issues outside the public arena making reports and conclusions public only after they’ve been sorted out in secret. If there’s any one lesson more important than any other coming from the Ferguson shooting crisis, it’s that openness and transparency are paramount. The trust between police and the public is dynamic and must be tended regularly, rather than preserved and cashed in when it’s most needed. In times of crisis, openness will serve police well when the benefit of the doubt is in question.
Obviously all four finalists are qualified to be the chief of a department like Aurora, the one the city chooses needs to best understand how it will only become more and not less important to nurture trust and confidence between Aurora cops and Aurora residents.
Thanks pray for the Female or Hispanic male.
Cops need public trust but it starts within and Oates did not provide this no one to trust anyone, our new police chief or any chief cannot be such a monster like Dan Oates.
What a Christmas gift, as I knew he was fixing to bail with all the officers filing civil suits on him.
Shhhhh, Oates is napping at his MB meeting should he be written up because you know if any APD officer’s were caught sleeping one of his but buddies to run to him and just like Richardson, Oates would be licking that pen to write a reprimand.
We can’t afford to have Mintzer as Police Cheif, not now.
With Ferguson, and the other black / white protesters we just can’t have him in office for chief.
The Chief’s office needs to continue conversations with all of the various interest groups that create a City. Not everybody is going to agree on one defined position or action. Transparency needs to exist on hot topics, but the Chief can’t just throw the officer involved under the bus. The Chief, and particularly this publication, need to point out the officer was enforcing the laws. When an officer tells you “You’re under arrest”. Guess what? You are; in fact, under arrest. And fighting an officer because you don’t want to go to jail is not only another violation of the law, but it’s what the tax payers who’s taxes we rely on for our income, expect of us. Find the violators and bring them to justice. That’s what Police do, what a concept! Was the Ferguson shooting clean? I have no idea, and neither do you. Only the officer fighting for his life and explain why he pulled the trigger, but the fact does remain the suspect committed and offense, and the officer was trying to do his job. The race card being played is unfair and is a violation of the trust already established. If you’re offended that a suspect was shot, start with why the suspect was in this position to begin with. The first act of the domino effect is the suspect broke the law. The second criteria for analysis is the Police are paid to enforce the law and arrest (if necessary) violators of the laws written by the citizens.
You want a pillar of justice to stand on and shout your voice? Make it one that starts with, this person is a criminal. And the people who deal with the criminals are the Police. You want use of Tasers to be less? Me too! Stop fighting with the cops. You don’t want to be struck by a baton? Don’t give an officer a reason to use it, follow his commands. If you’re innocent, that will come out and you’ll be let go. But when a crime goes down; EVERYBODY IS A SUSPECT TO POLICE! THEY’RE PAID TO BE SUSPICIOUS! Maybe the racist was the shop owner you told us the black kid did it. So we are going to contact the black kid. When he fights our investigation, the domino effect is starting. Non-offender action is the first step. Cooperation and respect with the police is second step. The Police are paid to win; are you paid to steal?
Like the drug problem. There is a huge conflict in Mexico among the drug cartels for control, they are killing each other by the hundreds down there. But Mexico doesn’t have a drug problem, the United States of America has a drug problem. You don’t buy drugs? There won’t be drug dealers on the corner. Figure out your roll as a citizen, parent, victim or suspect. It’s your move.
Great comment. I agree with you when you say, “was the Ferguson shooting clean? I have no idea and neither do you”. That’s one of the most sensible comments I’ve heard yet.
Your point about drug use in America is right on. Stop using and the cartels lose their market. “It’s our move for sure”.
Hope you don’t mid my asking. Are you a police officer by chance? Again let me say great comment. Thanks for you input.
I am a retired Police Officer with the Aurora Police Dept. I spend 32 years with Aurora, starting as your basic grunt patrol officer working graveyard shift; and move up through the ranks to retire as Division Chief over Criminal Investigations. But the simple fact remains, you don’t want to get contacted by the Police? Don’t give us a reason. Are there racists Police, I suspect there are a few, but fighting them, shooting at them, running from them, failing to follow commands; is just going to get you hurt. These contacts need to be brought to the attention of the Department so that they may deal with it appropriately. We don’t want racist cops anymore than you do. Do your part, we’ll do ours.
I reside in Littleton where we have what I think is a first rate police department. I went through the citizens academy a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I learned a lot let me tell you. Being a police officer has got to be a tough job requiring a level head and steady hand. I doubt I could do it.
Years ago I was an applicant to the Denver Police completing my physical, mental and lie detector test. I was supposed to have a board review but missed the date and ended up in the US Air Force instead. I sometimes wonder how my life might have gone had I not missed that board hearing. OH well. It’s all water under the bridge now and I can’t complain. I have a great retirement and keep my nose clean.
Thanks again for the reply and thanks for your years of service to the community. Have a great New Year.
Your police officials will throw their officers under the bus if there is any situation where the race hustlers twist any black arrest into racism…they are gutless cowards and won’t stand up to reverse racism.
They won’t even admit it exists.
You tell em by golly! No one treads on you, right?
Where do you come up with all this fertile imaginative nonsense? “Gutless cowards”? That’s amusing.
I see it with my own eyes…go back to fking your dog you P.O.S. liberal.
I’ll wager you see lots of things with those eyes considering your gutter level comment.
Why still no IA investigation against Macgregor for his affair with a cops wife?
Forgot do as he says not as he does!
As you know there are 3 categories of people in this police department. First and foremost are the elite. Then there are the popular, who are usually favored by the elite, and finally, there’s everybody else.
When an elite does something untoward and it causes marital and personal damage to a subordinate, then the consensus will go something like, “hey, they are two grown people making their own choices”.
That of course, is excuse making for the actions of the elite. It’s also shifting the focus off the reason IA should get involved. The elite is the “big boss” to the husband/cop. What recourse, even if it’s a verbal telling off, does the officer have? This goes way beyond breaking bro code.
I feel for the officer. The elite and the community relations captain, were spotted at the Village Inn the other day at Chambers and Iliff. How blatant. Maybe blatant because they know it’s all good….for them, anyway.