Multiple residents at an Aurora City Council public comment listening session on Nov. 1 urged the council to remove Police Chief Todd Chamberlain, pressed for independent investigations into alleged officer misconduct and failures to follow policy, and called for creation of a democratically elected civilian police accountability body.

Cassandra Hill told the council that the Aurora Police Department (APD) was found to have engaged in patterns and practices of racism and excessive force in 2020 and has been operating under a consent decree. Speaking during the public-comment period, she said the department’s recent leadership choices have not been made transparently and leveled a series of accusations against Chief Todd Chamberlain. “If he should not resign, the city council must remove him from his position,” she said, adding that the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAG) and “the people of Aurora demand that Todd Chamberlain resign immediately.”

Other speakers described personal incidents they said show systemic failures in APD response and oversight. Kayla Calandres, who identified herself as an Aurora resident, said she reported multiple domestic-violence incidents and received only automated replies. She cited APD Directive 300 and Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-800.3 and said officers did not follow department protocols; she asked the council for an independent probe, discipline for involved staff and “some type of reparations” for what she described as a systematic breach. “Our directives are not suggestions, they’re binding. So hold them to it,” Calandres said.

Family members of people killed in encounters with officers also spoke. Shadena Lewis, identifying herself as the grandmother of Kylan Aaron Lewis, told the council her grandson was shot and killed by an officer and said he was unarmed and holding a cellphone. Kyowa Lewis said her brother was killed during a police encounter and appealed to the council to make substantive changes or risk losing public trust at the ballot box.

Speakers demanded specific changes: immediate removal or resignation of Chief Chamberlain (as urged by DACAG in the comment), a transparent, civilian-led process for selecting future chiefs, and establishment of a Civilian Police Accountability Council with elected civilian authority over policing decisions. No council vote or formal action occurred during the public-comment period; staff directed speakers to provide follow-up information to the clerk for any formal filings.

The council did not respond with a policy decision during the session. The public-comment period concluded and the body moved into its regular council meeting at 6:40 p.m.