AURORA | Finalists for the job of monitoring reforms within Aurora’s police and fire departments will field questions from the public at a virtual forum Wednesday evening.
While the city’s website says the identities of the two firms chosen as finalists won’t be released until Wednesday to “maintain the integrity of this ongoing competitive bidding process” citing city and state rules, it does say both finalists “specialize in working with government agencies and law enforcement to develop sound public safety policies and practices.”
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser reached an agreement with department leaders on the reforms in 2021, after an investigation by his office found that Aurora police were using force disproportionately against residents of color and that paramedics were misusing sedatives on patients.
Weiser and City Manager Jim Twombley released the consent decree in November. Reforms identified in the document include:
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Addressing actual and perceived bias in policing.
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Developing a new system for collecting data about police interactions with community members.
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Increasing the number of minority candidates hired as police officers and firefighters.
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Monitoring and updating use-of-force policies.
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Reviewing and creating new policies for sedative administration by paramedics.
The forum will start at 6:30 p.m. and can be streamed through auroratv.org. Residents can submit their questions for the two finalists through Tuesday at engageaurora.org/consentdecreemonitor or by calling 303-739-7000.
During the forum and until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, feedback about the finalists will also be accepted through a link available at engageaurora.org/consentdecreemonitor.