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Aurora police and community members defend SAVE intervention as shootings fall; some urge caution on program changes
Summary
APD presented data crediting the Aurora SAVE intervention with multi-year declines in shootings and other crimes and described selection criteria and partner roles; community speakers and council members urged reliance on data and cautioned against dismantling or localizing the program without safeguards.
Police and community leaders told the Public Safety Committee they believe the Aurora SAVE program and related community partnerships have contributed to a meaningful decline in shootings and some violent-crime indicators, but several members urged caution before making structural changes.
An Aurora police official delivered a program overview and cited crime reductions the department attributes in part to SAVE and related tactics. “When we looked at last year and this year to date ... we are at 27 [nonfatal shootings] this year compared with 42 last year,” the official said, presenting a multi-year view that the department described as a five-year low in nonfatal shootings.
Staff described SAVE as an evidence-based, multi-component intervention originating with the National Network for Safe Communities and stressed it is not purely a law-enforcement program: it combines targeted notifications and call‑ins with NGO partners offering jobs, tattoo removal, education and therapy. The department said selection is based on multiple factors—recent firearm-related violence, victimization history, group or gang association, social-network and intelligence analysis—and emphasized the program is not based on race, ethnicity, religion or immigration status.
On metrics, staff reported the program had identified 101 individuals to date, made 88 contacts (an 87.1% contact rate), identified three individuals described as “trigger pullers” year-to-date and planned 21 notifications for the coming month. Staff invited council members to ride along on outreach efforts to see procedures firsthand.
A program participant speaking to the committee described personal transformation after engagement with the program, citing job training and support services. Melissa Murdoch, a member of the Chief’s Critical Response Team, said the CCRT helps build community trust by providing local perspectives and continuity after critical incidents.
Several council members said they support evidence-based strategies but cautioned that disassociating from national partners or diluting program safeguards could weaken demonstrated outcomes; staff warned that moving the program entirely in-house or modifying the notification letter could “water down” the approach over time.
No formal policy change or vote was taken; the committee heard the presentations and flagged several follow-ups, including more detail on selection safeguards and outcome measurement.
