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Families and advocates press Aurora City Council for police transparency and leadership changes
Summary
Dozens of speakers told the Aurora City Council on Feb. 23 that the city must improve police accountability and transparency after a string of officer-involved killings, urging independent investigations and, for some, the removal of Police Chief Todd Chamberlain.
Dozens of family members and community advocates used the council’s public comment periods on Feb. 23 to demand transparency and accountability from the Aurora Police Department and city leadership following recent officer-involved killings.
Many speakers described deeply personal losses and pressed the city to take concrete steps. Milo Schwab, representing the family of Rajon Belt Stubblefield, said the department "has not made the changes it needs," adding that juries have found excessive-force claims in other cases while the city disciplined no officers. Erica Murphy, who identified herself as the mother of a child who witnessed a fatal police shooting, said, "Justice means transparency. Justice means accountability. Justice means a full and independent investigation." Cliff Jones, speaking for Stubblefield’s family, urged the council to "support the removal of the involved officer from active duty" while investigations proceed.
Speakers also raised concerns about department leadership and community trust. Several called for broader reforms — including independent investigations and changes at the top of the department — and questioned whether current policies and communications from police leadership sufficiently address community concerns. Paul Nelson, with the Denver Aurora Community Action Committee (DACAC), characterized the situation as a "constitutional crisis" and urged council action.
Council members acknowledged the comments during reports and elsewhere in the meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Coombs and other council members said they had heard constituent concerns and raised questions about the department’s communications; one councilor said the chief should receive coaching on engagement and trust-building. Several members emphasized the need to balance immediate accountability with due process for personnel decisions.
The meeting did not produce a council vote directly on personnel action. Instead, the public testimony and council remarks set the stage for possible follow-up: families demanded independent investigations and changes in leadership, and several council members signaled they would pursue further review and oversight steps. The council did not schedule a specific follow-up vote at the close of the meeting.
Next steps: community advocates said they will continue to press the council in upcoming hearings and public meetings for formal actions on oversight and investigations.
