EDITOR: We hired a new sheriff two years ago to clean up the town police, but when she steps on the toes of its favorite sons, we take her out!
Sound familiar?
The Aurora Police Department is under sanctions from the State Attorney General due to the racist, abusive and couched “patterns and practices” of a minority of police officers, who believe the rules and professional conduct don’t apply to them.
Chief Vanessa Wilson, almost alone in the police department, tried to fire the worst offenders, but the police unions protested and propped up a council member to defame Wilson.
Did Mayor Mike Coffman or City Manager Jim Twombly come to her defense? Did one of the 700 police officers? I don’t think so.
The Sentinel suggested Coffman resign, and The Denver Post demanded Twombly’s firing, as they both misstated the facts against Wilson.
I agree. How can the citizens of Aurora look the other way while our leadership has no integrity and is willing to send the chief away without due process and return Aurora to the way of the Old West police corruption?
— Dr. Jack McInroy, Aurora, via letters@SentinelColorado.com
All true except in one regard: Officers did speak up in Chief Wilson’s defense, but what is really telling is that they felt they had to do so anonymously for fear of reprisal from within.
A police officer can’t speak their mind for fear of retaliation from his peers. How does this reflect on the lack of professionalism of the Aurora Police?
If, in fact, the author knew something other than the wild generalizations published in the media, I could take his opinion seriously. A close examination of the Attorney General’s report will show broad generalizations without facts. It will also show flawed logic about disproportionate racial statistics. Former Arapahoe DA Brauchler wrote an editorial in the Denver Post that did a good job of exposing the flaws in the Attorney General’s report. The Attorney General comes from an academic background without a firm grasp on application of the laws. The public image projected by the former Chief Wilson is a long way from the reality experienced by those who have worked with her for many years.