New Police chief pick lays out his plan to lead Aurora PD

On Thursday, the City of Aurora announced Todd Chamberlain as its choice to lead the Aurora Police Department. Chamberlain, a former commander of the Los Angeles Police Department, has spent the last four years as the principal public safety consultant with the Justice Public Safety (JPS) division at SAS Institute, a data analytics company.

Before officially taking on the role, Chamberlain must be confirmed by a majority of the Aurora Police Department. During a press conference on Thursday, city officials introduced Chamberlain to the media.

“With the skill set I’ve developed over 35 years in law enforcement, I’m eager to bring that experience to Aurora,” Chamberlain said.

Aurora PD has seen frequent changes in leadership, with Chamberlain potentially becoming the fourth chief since the controversial removal of former Chief Vanessa Wilson in early 2022. When asked about his approach to leading a department with such inconsistent leadership, Chamberlain emphasized that his strategy is multi-faceted.

“I don’t think it’s one-dimensional. There are many factors to consider given what this department has experienced,” Chamberlain said. “My focus will always be on three key areas: crime, the community, and risk mitigation, both internal and external.”

Chamberlain also highlighted his unique qualifications for addressing the strained relationship between the Aurora community and the police department.

“I’ve worked in some of the most diverse communities in the United States. I’ve served, learned, and built partnerships in those communities,” he said.

As part of his community policing strategy, Chamberlain intends to closely examine the department’s use of force policies. “In law enforcement, use of force is inevitable, but it’s crucial to focus on how it happens, how we can avoid it, and how we can minimize it,” he explained.

For the first time in the years-long search for a permanent chief, city officials bypassed the public input process in order to expedite the selection of the right candidate, according to City Manager Jason Batchelor.

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