The Aurora Police Department has a long history of internal conflict. The city has denied on multiple accounts having issues with racism and police brutality. Police chief Vanessa Wilson was elected in 2020 and aimed at reforming the department. She was not scared to fire police officers that displayed bad behavior. Regardless of these efforts, the situation has reached beyond her grasp. These problems must no longer be brushed under the rug and it is time for the state to intervene. 

An investigation was completed in mid-September. In the 112 page paper, state-appointed investigators declared that the department was found violating residents’ legal rights on multiple instances. Racial bias was a constant pattern in the report as many police officers were guilty of failing to record required information when it came to community interactions. The investigators read through over 3,000 reports regarding physical force used by the Aurora police officers.  

Other violations stated in the report include Senate Bill 20-217. This bill requires officers to have legal and public safety basis for making any stop while on duty. The department failed to abide by this law and was found to be abusing their positions as police officers. 

The report also noted that the department was 2.5 times more likely to use force on non-white and ethnic groups than white residents. These issues with racism became more prominent when 23-year-old Elijah McClain died after being arrested by Aurora police officers. The cause of death was a far too high dose of ketamine administered by the Aurora Fire Department. 

After the protests following McClain’s death, state lawmakers made a “sweeping police accountability measure.” This was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis with the support of other senators and representatives. This type of state intervention is what the Aurora Police Department is in need of. 

State intervention calls for a complete reform of the entire department and how they train their officers. A more thorough investigation needs to be done on the department to assure that their officers are displaying correct behavior. This means holding officers accountable for their actions and firing anyone contributing to hate, racism and police brutality. No exceptions can be made if complete reform is to be done. The police officers who remain in the department must undergo another set of training to tackle all the internal conflicts. This includes cultural and racial workshops that can educate officers on marginalized groups and how to tackle biases. Sensitivity training needs to be of higher priority as well so that officers are better aware of their actions on the field. It is time that change occurs in order to protect the Aurora community and have the rest of the police departments across the nation also relook at their own sectors and reform.