Aurora’s candidates for council offered differing views on the city’s progress in implementing a consent decree with the state that outlines major changes to its fire and policing practices, with some expressing satisfaction and others worry. concern

Mayor Mike Coffman, who is seeking reelection, said the police and fire departments are making “great strides” toward addressing the decree’s requirements.

“I’m proud of how our city’s public safety leadership, both police and fire, are not only working hard to achieve the goals of the consent decree, but are seeing it as an opportunity for improvement,” Coffman said.

Jeffrey Sanford, who is running for mayor, is more skeptical, calling the monitor “just a cheerleader.”

Sanford also criticized the city’s fire and police chiefs, arguing that for the latter to say they’re “doing the best they can” isn’t enough. The city should look to Boulder for a policing model to follow, he said, though he offered no specifics as to why.

Councilmember Juan Marcano, who is also running for the seat, did not respond to requests for comment.

As the two-year mark of the City of Aurora’s consent decree approaches, the independent monitor overseeing its implementation concluded the city has made “significant progress” in pursuing its requirements, they said in a meeting Tuesday. IntegrAssure, the third party monitor, released its report on Oct. 15.

The city entered into the consent decree with Colorado Attorney General’s Office in 2021 to implement sweeping changes to policing, notably in the use of force and how officers engage with residents. The process was prompted by the 2019 death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, who died after an encounter with officers as he walked home from a convenience store.

Aurora’s at-large candidates, Curtis Gardner, Alison Coombs and Jono Scott, also offered divergent takes. At-large council candidate Thomas Mayes did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Gardner said he is happy with the police’s progress. He said he looks at the decree as an opportunity for improvement within the department, which, he added, has seen some high profile incidents causing the community to question the police.

“By and large, the men and women of APD are passionate and care greatly about the community they serve,” Gardner said. “I look forward to continued progress and have full faith in the leadership of APD, city management and the consent decree monitors to see this process through and make the Aurora Police Department the best police agency in the State of Colorado.”

Coombs said the city is on track in a lot of areas, but she expressed some concerns. In particular, Coombs noted the items on the “cautionary” track in the monitor’s report, including racial bias, use of force, accountability and transparency.

Difficulty analyzing the data they’re collecting is causing serious issues, Coombs said. The city council has authorized significant funding for technology to collect appropriate data, she noted.

“My expectation is that the department will ensure necessary staffing and training to analyze the available data and make it available to the public for the sake of transparency and public trust,” Coombs said.

It is also “very troubling,” she said, that the department has not been able to provide appropriate bias training. However, she appreciated that police officials agreed to change course on its bias training when the feedback said it was inadequate.

“I do believe the chief will ensure that a training is implemented that will meet the needs of the city and the department,” Coombs said.

Scott said he is happy with the police’s progress.

“I’m grateful to our Aurora police officers for making great progress towards meeting the consent decree goals,” Scott said. “I’ll do everything I can to support them in that progress.”

The Attorney General Office’s investigation that led to the consent decree called for changes to first responders’ use of force practices, investigative practices and use of chemical sedatives. The office’s investigation also pushed for changes in recruiting, hiring and promotional practices, along with a greater need for accountability and transparency.

Aurora police Officer Nathan Woodyard is currently on trial facing reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in McClain’s death.

A jury convicted Officer Randy Roedema on Oct. 12 of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, the least serious charges he faced, but acquitted former officer Jason Rosenblatt on all counts. Paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec are in the final trial next month in connection with McClain’s death.

Prosecutors said McClain, who wore a black mask because he was often cold, was listening to music when officers responded to a 911 call by a person who reported McClain was acting suspiciously.

The officers took McClain to the ground, and Woodyard put him in a type of neck hold – authorized by the Aurora Police Department at the time — that caused him to briefly lose consciousness by restricting oxygen flow to his brain. About 18 minutes into the struggle, a paramedic who responded to the scene injected McClain with the sedative ketamine.

He went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing. He died a few days later in a hospital.

The monitor’s report is available at AuroraMonitor.org.