Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Outreach topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Aurora police chief proposes Community Response Team to counter misinformation and improve outreach
Summary
The police chief introduced a pilot Community Response Team intended to provide vetted, factual briefings to community leaders and reduce spread of misinformation about high‑profile incidents; the chief cited a false livestream claim about a Delmar Park death and said the Team will be informational only, not a disciplinary or policy body.
Aurora’s police chief briefed the committee on a pilot Community Response Team designed to provide trusted, factual information to community leaders and to counter misinformation during high‑profile incidents.
The chief described recent examples that motivated the proposal, including a widely circulated livestream alleging a racially motivated 'lynching' at Delmar Park. The chief called that account "a complete false narrative," saying the death was a suicide and that inaccurate social‑media reporting had created community fear. He also cited a livestreamed officer‑involved shooting that, he said, circulated incorrect details about use of force and de‑escalation.
The chief said the Team would be "informational partnerships" that brief vetted community leaders on incidents, legal limits to disclosure, and policing tactics so they can return factual information to their constituencies. He said the Team would not set policy, participate in disciplinary processes, or replace the consent‑decree Community Advisory Council or the independent monitor; instead, it would operate separately under the city manager’s office and convene every other month with ad‑hoc crisis briefings as needed.
On selection, the chief said members were chosen for credibility and community trust—educators, clergy, youth advocates and neighborhood leaders were included—and he offered to supply a list of representatives if committee members wanted it. When asked whether members were "cherry‑picked," the chief denied that characterization and said membership reflects geographic ward representation.
Committee members expressed support for greater transparency while also asking the chief to provide the membership list and to continue clarifying the Team’s separation from investigative or disciplinary functions.
