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Union members vote no confidence for Aurora police chief

City officials defended Chief Vanessa Wilson, saying she is responsible for necessary but “unpopular” decisions

aurora police chief vaness wilson

CBS Denver via Twitter

By Suzie Ziegler

AURORA, Colo. — A majority of members of the embattled Aurora Police Department have declared they do not have confidence in Chief Vanessa Wilson.

According to Sentinel Colorado, members of two police unions responded to the single-question poll this week to voice their displeasure. Wilson became chief in August 2020 after serving as interim for eight months.

Doug Wilkinson, head of the Aurora Police Association, reportedly wrote that “[Wilson] should be removed immediately.”

The vote came after CBS Denver published a news story last week with bodycam video of a rough arrest, according to Sentinel Colorado. The story prompted Wilson to open an internal investigation.

Wilkinson disapproved of the probe.

“After a recent event in which Chief Wilson restarted an investigation on officers who had already been cleared of wrongdoing by department experts the Aurora Police Association Executive Board determined it was necessary to hold a vote of no confidence on her administration,” Wilkinson wrote in an email obtained by Sentinel Colorado.

Meanwhile, Deputy City Manager Jason Batchelor voiced his support for Wilson.

“Chief Wilson has my full support to lead the agency,” Batchelor said in a statement obtained by Sentinel Colorado. “She is responsible for making difficult and, at times, unpopular decisions to meet the needs of both employees and our community. Over the last 21 months, she has been a vocal champion for Aurora police officers while also making it clear that she supports implementing best practices. This vote comes at a time when there are a lot of changes underway for the policing profession. I believe we all share the same goal in supporting our officers and look forward to working with the FOP to address their concerns and restore trust.”

The vote comes about a month after two Aurora medics and three police officers were charged in the death of Elijah McClain.

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