Personnel committee gives Maurice Aguilar favorable recommendation for Lawrence police chief; contract, priorities discussed

The Lawrence City Personnel Committee on May 12 voted unanimously to forward Mayor Brian A. DePena’s nominee, Captain Maurice Aguilar, to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation and anticipated executive session for contract negotiation details.

City Attorney Tim Hooten told the committee the administration and the candidate had reached agreement in principle on contract terms and that a completed three-year contract would be available for council review. The administration shared that it had identified priority areas for the nominee, including drug trafficking, homelessness, noise and public alcohol use, dirt bikes and community policing with businesses and residents. HR reported a background check on Aguilar came back clear.

Aguilar, a career Lawrence Police Department captain, reviewed his record and said he had led or helped develop multiple department initiatives, including a behavioral-health unit, a domestic-violence unit and the department’s body-worn camera program (which he said stalled previously because of labor negotiations). He told the committee he wanted to prioritize recruitment and retention, budget management, and nuisances that affect quality of life such as illegal motorcycle activity and vagrancy.

"I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve as your chief," Aguilar said in closing remarks.

Sergeant Mike Somard, speaking as president of the Lawrence Police Superior Officers Association (LPSOA), and local business owner Rafael Guzman both spoke in support of Aguilar. Somard and Lieutenant Grama offered to answer questions from the committee about Aguilar’s record. Guzman said the business community backed the nominee.

Committee members questioned Aguilar on community engagement, trust-building in the city’s Latino community, the department’s overtime and staffing, strategies for reducing illegal motorcycle groups and enforcement of noise ordinances, and how he would improve department culture and supervision.

Aguilar estimated the department currently has about 109 sworn officers and said recruitment would be an "evergreen" priority; he told the committee the department is budgeted for roughly 132 positions and he intends to pursue transfers, college recruitment and advertising to reduce overtime by filling vacancies. He described plans to revive neighborhood association engagement, youth programming and public-information efforts to improve two-way communication with residents.

Councilor Wendy Luzon moved to forward the nomination with a favorable recommendation; Councilor Federlina Santiago seconded. The committee amended the motion to note an anticipated executive session for reputational questions and contract review; the motion passed unanimously.

The full City Council will consider the nomination at a future meeting; the committee was told a finalized contract (reported to include $255,000 in annual salary) would be completed for council review before final action.