Aurora updates public-safety action plan: staffing gains, lower crime counts and new outreach efforts

Aurora public-safety leaders gave a status update on staffing, training, crime trends and community programs, reporting recruitment gains, lower overall crime counts and multiple outreach and crisis-response efforts now underway.

Police staffing and training: City police leaders reported several academy classes in progress. The transcript notes about 65 cadets across classes (references to "1B" and "2B" academies) with one class graduating in roughly a month and another later in the year; the department said it is planning additional lateral classes and exploring a "FastTrack" academy to recruit in-state officers already POST-certified to shorten transition time. "We've got, looks like 5 or 6 depending on acceptance that'll start next month, and then we're also looking at the potential of another October academy," the chief said.

Crime trends and enforcement: Officials said overall crime counts remain down relative to recent years, including five-year lows for fatal and nonfatal shootings, though there has been a slight recent uptick in murders in the last four weeks. The department reported a clearance rate above the national average (approximately 70% stated for recent investigations). Motor-vehicle thefts were highlighted: year-to-date motor-vehicle thefts are 913 this year compared with 1,577 last year and a five‑year rolling average of 2,120, representing a roughly 41% reduction from last year.

Youth-violence and gang reduction: Jessica (public-safety program staff) described an outreach and call-in event scheduled for the evening of the meeting in which 31 individuals linked to violent behavior or associations were invited; several were court‑ordered to attend and others were contacted door‑to‑door by community organizations. "We have 31 individuals have been invited that are either exhibited violent behavior or associated with it," Jessica said. Staff said the effort includes community partners, case management and follow-up referrals.

Crisis programs and clinician services: The city said crisis-response programs are more fully staffed and are delivering emergency-room and jail diversion services; the memorandum notes reduced patrol handling of some crises when clinicians intervene. Staff said the city will issue a request for proposals (RFP) for clinician services at the end of the summer and expects a contract to return to council by year end.

Homelessness and Navigation Campus: Outreach and abatement work by the city's "heart" team has expanded; staff reported more abatements and more engagement because the team is fully staffed and scheduled systematically. Construction of the Navigation Campus is ongoing; staff said showers and other critical-path items are complete in some areas and continued progress supports a target opening in November, with another construction update scheduled for July 14.

Hotspot policing and hotels: Councilors and police discussed hotspot policing in a northeast hotel corridor where several hotel owners offered space for a small substation, parking and other supports for officers. Police said an arrest operation in the hotel area produced a marked decline in crime and that some crime activity shifted toward Denver after local enforcement increased. Council members requested better sharing of hotspot information with community groups.

Ending: City leaders asked for continued monitoring and promised follow-up data on key metrics, including additional historical comparisons for motor-vehicle theft and more regular reports on case filings, warrants and response-time breakdowns.