NewsBreak Original

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / March 17, 2023. (Aurora, Colo.) An Arapahoe County jury convicted Antoin Griego, 25, of shooting a gun at a security officer patrolling a neighborhood and shattering the officer’s back window on Jan. 30, 2021.

If you live in Aurora, prepare to hear more police sirens. Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo said during a public meeting Thursday that officers will begin to respond to all violent crimes with sirens blaring and lights swirling. He said it not only gets officers to the scene quicker, but it sends a message to the community – and especially criminals – that police are everywhere.

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Jan. 30, 2023. (Aurora, Colo.) An Arapahoe County jury convicted a 22-year-old man of killing one and injuring three others during an early-morning hotel shooting on Oct. 2, 2021, in the 12000 block of East Colfax Avenue.

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Jan. 24, 2023. (Aurora, Colo.) An Arapahoe County judge sentenced a man who violently attacked a woman on the High Line Canal Trail on July 11, 2020, to decades in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Nov. 28, 2022. (Aurora, Colo.) The Regional Transportation District’s (RTD) R Line will return to service at approximately 4 a.m., Nov. 29, after it derailed on Sept. 21, injuring three passengers.

(Aurora Police Department) Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Nov. 16, 2022. (Aurora, Colo.) After the R Line light rail derailment in Aurora on Sept. 21, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved the Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan submitted by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) to prevent further light rail train derailments.

(Aurora, Colo.) Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman says the city’s police officers need to get into shape. Coffman made remarks about police physical fitness in a Facebook post Monday. “When I was in the Army, and later the Marines, both on active duty and in the reserves, I had to take a physical fitness test every year throughout my 21-year military career,” the mayor posted. “However, in the Aurora Police Department they are only required to pass a physical fitness test to graduate from our police academy and then there are no further requirements.”

(Aurora, Colo.) The Aurora City Council approved Monday a new law that requires people who shoplift $300 or more to serve at least a three-day jail sentence in the Aurora Detention Center.

(Aurora, Colo.) If you steal something in Aurora, you’re going to jail. That’s how councilmember Danielle Jurinsky wants it. She is introducing legislation at the City Council meeting Monday that would set minimum jail times for people who steal vehicles and items over $300.

(Aurora, Colo.) When you have an emergency and need to talk to police, firefighters or paramedics, you want to make sure both parties understand each other. But the fact is many people live with disabilities that hinder their communication skills. They may be hard of hearing, have autism or mental illness. What makes matters worse is first responders often don’t know how to interact with people facing communication limitations.

(Aurora, Colo.) During a community forum Tuesday, Aurora residents shared the qualities they want in a new police chief. Aurora hired Public Sector Search and Consulting to recruit a police chief to replace Vanessa Wilson, who was fired by the city manager last month.

(Aurora, Colo.) The Aurora City Council will discuss a plan by the police department at its study session on Monday to crack down on speeders with laser photo enforcement technology.

Officer Atchison and clinician Matt Glover head out for the day.Aurora Police Department. (Denver, Colo.) Aurora and Denver both agreed Monday to provide more money for alternative police response teams.

(Aurora, Colo.) Aurora police began a targeted enforcement on May 1 against street races, hoping to slow down and deter potential racers. Agent Matthew Longshore, a public information officer for the Aurora Police Department, said the enforcement was authorized by City Council in July 2021 through a city ordinance. The ordinance allows law enforcement to identify vehicles used in street races or other crimes and follow-up later. This could potentially involve towing a vehicle, incentivizing owners to make appearances in court.

A truck stops after hitting the pedestrian bridge over Colfax in Aurora.Aurora Police Department. A large flatbed truck carrying a boom struck the Colfax pedestrian bridge Monday in Aurora.

IntegrAssure CEO Jeff Schlanger is flanked by Reid Hettich and Omar Montgomery, who will lead a community advisory council..AuroraTV. (Denver, Colo.) Aurora's independent monitor asked residents to notify him about police misconduct during a town hall meeting.

This man swore at the City Council Monday during public comment period.Aurora TV/YouTube. (Aurora, Colo.) Residents angry over the firing of Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson blasted conservative members of the City Council Monday.

City Manager Jim Twombly, left, and Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson attend a July 27 news conference.Photo by Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images. (Aurora, Colo.) Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly announced Wednesday he’d fired Police Chief Vanessa Wilson. Twombly said he made his decision because Wilson demonstrated a lack of urgency in resolving department issues including records management.

(Denver, Colo.) The Aurora City Council passed a resolution Monday that indefinitely guarantees full funding for the police department. Democrats Crystal Murillo, Alison Coombs, Carlos Medina and Juan Marcano voted against the bill.

Haile Selassie Woldegebrieal, who owns a 7-Eleven at 1795 N. Peoria St., meets with Aurora Police.Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman's Facebook page. (Aurora, Colo.) Aurora City Council member Dustin Zvonek says improving public safety is his top priority. He believes all council members should put keeping the peace at the top of their lists.