Key Dates

August 24, 2019- Aurora Police Department confronted Elijah McClain after responding to a call about an unarmed person wearing a ski mask that looked “sketchy.” Aurora Fire Rescue responded to the scene as well and ketamine was administered to Elijah McClain. While on scene, Elijah McClain went into cardiac arrest.
August 30, 2019 - Elijah McClain died.
June 9, 2020 – Aurora Police Department made multiple policy changes, including a policy that bans carotid and other choke holds as part of its revisions to its Less Lethal Devices, Weapons and Techniques policy and Firing of a Weapon policy to include the requirement, when feasible and safe, an officer announce when they are going to use possibly deadly force against a member of the community. APD also adopted multiple new policies, including Duty to Intervene policy which outlines the obligation that officers have to intervene in use of force incidents where the officer witnesses a level of force that exceeds that which is allowed by law in pursuance of the officer’s duty in an arrest, custody, detention, booking or crowd control event. Aurora Police Department also adopted an Officer Relief Process policy which refers to the replacement of officers who have been involved in a physical struggle/fight/violent event with a subject by other arriving officers who are less emotionally involved and can help keep the situation from escalating to unnecessary physical levels. This process also applies to any situation where an officer appears unable to control his/her own emotions and/or is unsuccessful at de-escalation techniques. Lastly, Aurora Police Department adopted Suspicious Calls policy which outlines the approach that APD members should take with any suspicious person calls that they respond to. This includes response protocols from Aurora 911 call takers and dispatchers. The goal is for responding officers to use their own observations and training to overcome or eliminate any bias against the subject by the reporting party that may have generated the call. Call takers will gather as much information as possible about the specific behaviors that are being reported.
June 19, 2020 - Governor Jared Polis signed The Police Integrity Transparency and Accountability Act, also known as Senate Bill 217 (SB217) into law. This bill provided, among other things, a basis for the Colorado Attorney General to open a civil investigation of any governmental authority for engaging in a pattern or practice conduct that violates state or federal constitutionals or laws. A pattern or practice investigation looks at whether members of a government agency have a pattern of misconduct related to the rights, privileges, or immunities of people that those members interact with.
July 20, 2020 - Aurora City Council passed a resolution to convene an Independent Review Panel to investigate the Elijah McClain incident.
August 11, 2020 - Colorado Attorney General’s Office launched a pattern or practice investigation into the Aurora Police Department.
December 2020 – The City of Aurora appointed a police auditor to assess the Aurora Police Department’s compliance with department policies and state and federal law.
January 2021 – Aurora Police Department launches its Community Relations Section to focus on building relationships with the community it serves through engagement.
February 22, 2021 - An Independent Review Panel released its report. An Independent Review Panel commissioned by the City of Aurora on July 20, 2020 released a 157-page Investigation Report and Recommendations, with a scope that included (1) the facts surrounding APD’s and AFR’s contact with E. McClain, (2) an examination of all relevant and related APD and AFR policies, and (3) findings and recommendations for best practices.
Feb. 23, 2021 – Aurora Police Department created the Force Investigation Unit, a special team of detectives tasked with reviewing use of force incidents in accordance with community expectations and as required by Colorado Senate Bill 20-217.
March 2021 – The City of Aurora appointed a public safety communications manager to foster better information sharing between city leaders and the police department’s executive staff.
April 2021 – Aurora Police Department joined the 17th Judicial District Critical Response Team and the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. Critical Incident Response Teams were authorized by Colorado Senate Bill 15-219. They are comprised of investigators from multiple agencies and tasked with conducting independent investigations into officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths and other critical incidents involving police officers. The City of Aurora also launched its Youth Violence Prevention Program. The initiative’s strategic plan is later approved by the Aurora City Council on May 23, 2022. Lastly, the Aurora Police Department applied for and was accepted into the ABLE Project. ABLE training delivers practical, scenario-based training to police agencies in the strategies and tactics of police peer intervention.
Sept. 7, 2021 – Aurora Police Department revised its Coordination with AFR and EMS policy, Directive 9.06, to better define an officer’s role at emergency scenes shared with Aurora Fire Rescue and/or Emergency Medical Services. The revised policy also prohibits an officer from recommending to medical providers the use of a chemical sedative on a person in police custody. If a medical provider administers a chemical sedative on a person in police custody, the officer must document its use in their report.
Sept. 8, 2021 – Aurora Police Department launched its Aurora Mobile Response Team. The Aurora Mobile Response Team provides a non-police response to emergency calls that involve mental health, homelessness and substance abuse issues. The team responds to many of the social service type calls for service and provides initial contact and transport for individuals that meet the criteria for assistance.
September 15, 2021 - Colorado Attorney General released its pattern or practice report into the practices of the Aurora Police Department and the Aurora Fire Rescue and recommended that the City of Aurora enter into a consent decree
November 16, 2021 - The City of Aurora agreed to enter into a Consent Decree
November 22, 2021 - Aurora City Council approved the Consent Decree
February 14, 2022 - IntegrAssure, LLC, with its President and CEO, Jeff Schlanger as the Lead Monitor, was selected as the Consent Decree Monitoring Team.
February 15, 2022 - Jeff Schlanger and members of the Monitoring Team make their first site visit to Aurora.
March 15, 2022- Community Advisory Council was established.
April 1, 2022 – Interim Report on the Monitor’s 45 days was filed with the District Court, Arapahoe County, Colorado.
April 6, 2022 - Chief Vanessa Wilson is terminated by City Manager James Twombley who praises the community work of Chief Wilson, but indicates his decision to make a change based on other aspects of the Chief's responsibilities.
April 19, 2022 - First "Town Hall Meeting" hosted by the Monitor held.
April 19, 2022- Expert work on entry-level hiring process started.
April 20, 2022- Former Chief of Police Dan Oates was announced as the Interim Chief of Police.
April 25, 2022 – Aurora Police Department revised its Coordination with AFR and EMS policy, Directive 9.06, redefining transfer of care protocols to ensure medical care is prioritized over a criminal investigation.
May 2022- Directed Action Response Team (DART) is re-established.
May 15, 2022 - First Reporting Period ends.
May 23, 2022- Directive Manual 8.5 – Contact Data Collection was published.
July 5, 2022- Fatal officer-involved shooting in the proximity of the Ranger Motel occurred.
June 29, 2022- The internal affairs and Chief’s Review Board’s recommendations regarding allegations of misconduct against Commander Cassidee Carlson was overturned by Interim Chief Oates.
July, 2, 2022- Commander Cassidee Carlson was promoted to Division Chief of Patrol by Interim Chief Oates.
July 14, 2022- The first report from the Monitor was published.
July 15, 2022- Contact Data Collection form was implemented.
July 15, 2022- Directive Manual 10.02 Complaint and Discipline Procedures for Sworn Members was revised and published with the Chief’s Review Board removed. The Monitor was not informed until after-the-fact.
July 18, 2022- Fatal officer-involved shooting in the proximity of 438 North Oswego Street occurred.
August 9, 2022 - The second Town Hall was held. The recording can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKNKONz_L5I
August 15, 2022 - Second Reporting Period ends.
October 2, 2022- Fatal officer-involved shooting on East Colfax Avenue near Moline Street occurred.
October 15, 2022 - The second report from the Monitor was published.
October 17, 2022- Fatal officer-involved shooting near 18000 East Ohio Avenue occurred.
November 15, 2022 - Third Reporting Period ends.
November 30, 2022- Non-fatal officer-involved shooting near East 6th Avenue and South Peoria Street occurred.
December 1, 2022- Non- fatal officer-involved shooting by East 6th Avenue and South Peoria Street occurred.
December 5, 2022- Interim Chief of Police Art Acevedo assumed his role as interim chief.
December 24, 2022- Agent Nathan Meier was promoted. He was found drunk at the wheel of an Aurora police vehicle in 2019.
December 31, 2022-Non-fatal officer-involved shooting at 1200 block of North Chambers Road occurred.
January 10, 2023- Police Officer Matthew Green is reinstated to APD. He was a K-9 officer who responded to the scene of the Elijah McClain incident.
January 11, 2023- Police Officer Douglas Harroun is arrested for assault. The parallel internal investigations was initiated by APD and Chief Acevedo announced his intention to conduct internal investigations without waiting for criminal investigations to conclude.
Jan. 13, 2023 – Aurora Police Department adopted its Policy Governance policy, Directive 2.09, as recommended by the Consent Decree Monitor. The new policy serves as a blueprint for how all future policies are drafted and adopted.
Jan. 17, 2022 – Aurora Police Department revised its Duty to Intervene policy, Directive 5.09, as recommended by the Consent Decree Monitor.
January 15, 2023- The third report from the Monitor was published.
January 31, 2023 – Police Officer Harroun resigned.
Feb. 14, 2023 – Aurora Police Department adopted its Constitutional Policing and Bias-based Policing policy, Directive 8.52, as recommended by the Consent Decree Monitor. The policy ensures officers conduct all encounters with the community in accordance with the rights secured and protected by the United States Constitution, federal and state law, case law, and APD policy.
February 15, 2023- Directive Manual 8.32 and Directive Manual 8.52 Constitutional Policing were published. 98% of APD sworn members who interact with the public were trained on the updated policies.
February 15, 2023 - Fourth Reporting Period ends.
February 16, 2023- Virtual Community Event hosted by the Community Advisory Council to discuss the report from Reporting Period 3 was held with Chief Acevedo in attendance.
February 28, 2023- APD completed training the active sworn personnel on Integrating Communication Assessment and Tactics (ICAT).
March 4, 2023 – Fatal car collision involving Officer Eduardo Landeros in the 2300 block of South Blackhawk Street occurred. Colorado State Patrol and APD’s Internal Affairs initiated investigations into this incident.
March 14, 2023- The Monitor’s report examining the de novo process was published.
April 14, 2023 – Commander Cassidee Carlson retired.
April 15, 2023 - The fourth report from the Monitor was published.
April 25, 2023- Police Officer Landeros resigned.
May 2, 2023 – A hybrid Public Community Event hosted by the Community Advisory Council to discuss the report from Reporting Period 4 was held. The recording can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HNjUELxoHE
Aug 15, 2023 - Fifth Reporting Period ends.
Oct 15, 2023 - The fifth Monitor’s report was published.
Jan 5, 2024 - Officer Randy Roedema sentenced to 14 months in jail and 4 years of probation for criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in the tragic death of Elijah McClain.
Jan 22, 2024 - Chief Acevedo resigned, and Deputy Chief Heather Morris sworn in as Interim Chief of Police.
Feb 14, 2024 - APD Transparency Portal phase 1 implemented.
Feb 16, 2024 - Sixth Reporting Period ends, which also marks the end of Year 2 of the Monitorship.
Feb 26, 2024 - SPIDR Tech communications technology implemented to enhance transparency and customer service.
Mar 1, 2024 - Paramedic Peter Cichuniec sentenced to 5 years in jail for criminally negligent homicide, and assault in the third and second degree for the unlawful administration of drugs to Elijah McClain.