Aurora begins search for new police chief, with community input

AURORA — Fresh face. Hire from within. Diversity. Community policing.

Those are just some of the things Aurora residents say they want in their new police chief.

For the first time in nine years, Aurora is looking for a chief, and this selection will be different than the last time around.

When former Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates left in May to head the police department in Miami Beach, Fla., he took with him a reputation of bringing people together. When he was hired, Oates came to a city that was in flux, as tensions with the African-American community were high coming after several high-profile incidents.

At a public-comment meeting this week attended by several dozen residents, Regan Williams, the man in charge of recruiting candidates to become the next Aurora police chief, heard loud and clear that the city doesn’t want to take a step back.

“The relationship with the community is the best it’s ever been,” said John Gay, a member of a committee that works with the Aurora Police Department. “We’re very intimate with the Police Department.”

Williams is spearheading the search for the consultant firm Bob Murray and Associates, which was the same team Aurora hired when Oates was selected and also used to hire current Aurora Fire Chief Mike Garcia.

Williams said he plans to reach out to numerous parties in the city, including faith leaders, other area law enforcement agencies, school leaders and those who work with the immigrant community.

The search is expected to last between four to six months, Williams said.

Williams acknowledged that the Police Department “could be more diverse,” something residents said repeatedly they want to be a focus of the new chief.

Nearly 29 percent of the 340,000 people who call Aurora home are Latino and 16 percent are black.

“That has to be reflected within this department,” said Arapahoe County Sheriff Dave Walcher, who lives in Aurora.

The Rev. Thomas Mayes noted that Aurora police have made great strides in reaching out to minority communities. The new police chief needs to continue that effort, he said.

“I’d hate to see us go backward in order to go forward,” Mayes said.

Others said they would like to see the department hire from within.

Current interim Police Chief Terry Jones said he’s not interested in becoming the permanent top cop. Jones, 60, was also interim chief before Oates was hired

But Rob McGregor, who was tapped to be deputy police chief while Jones takes over the chief’s job, would like to be chief.

“The organization has made great strides over the last eight years, and I want to keep the organization moving forward,” Mc-Gregor told The Denver Post. “I was raised in Aurora. I grew up here.”

Ultimately, City Manager Skip Noe will bring a finalist list to the City Council for consideration. Applications for police chief should be available for review by late summer or early fall. The city also has a survey on its website for those interested in providing input.

With that information, Bob Murray and Associates will create a brochure to send out to potential candidates, along with pay, benefits and other information.

Williams said in-house candidates and others outside the department will be considered.

“Sometimes I like to say the best candidates are the ones who aren’t looking for jobs,” Williams said.

Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or twitter.com/cillescasdp