Resident tells Aurora City Council officers 'hugged' aggressor during downtown incident

At its June 9 meeting, the Aurora City Council heard public comments from residents who said police conduct during a recent downtown incident merited review.

Myra Goodson told the council she witnessed a downtown confrontation in which she said officers hugged the person she described as the aggressor. "I was really mad that the police hugged the aggressor," Goodson said during the public‑comment period, and asked council to "look into" whether the practice is appropriate and safe for officers.

Goodson said she asked for a supervisor and was told the hug was a "deescalation tool." She said she had discussed the practice with retired police officers who told her they had not heard of hugging as a de‑escalation method and warned hugging an aggressor could put officers in danger.

Another public commenter, Alex Warren, said videos of the encounter had circulated and raised broader concerns about targeted harassment. "Is it because she's trans? Is it because I'm gay?" Warren asked, and urged council, the city manager and the city attorney to meet and consider potential civil‑liberties and reconciliation steps. Warren also voiced concern about "the elected city chief of police and his control of social media," wording he used to describe his concerns about the response and its handling online.

Council did not take action during the public‑comment period; the council's public‑comment rules bar immediate action on items raised during that time. Speakers did say they wished for follow‑up from staff and legal counsel. The meeting record does not show a substantive staff report or a police department response on the record during the public session.

The public comments put the issue on the council's record and may prompt a referral to the city manager or city attorney for further review, depending on how council chooses to proceed at a future meeting.