Former Los Angeles police commander announced as next Aurora police chief

DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Aurora announced that Todd Chamberlain will be the next chief of the Aurora Police Department after more than two years with multiple interim chiefs.

The job listing was posted in July when the current interim police chief, Heather Morris, announced she would not be applying for the permanent role.

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The hiring was announced in an email from Aurora City Manager Jason Batchelor.

Aurora City Council will vote to confirm the appointment on Aug. 26, and if it is approved Chamberlain will be sworn in on Sept. 9.

Chamberlain began his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles Police Department in 1984 and rose through the ranks before he retired as a commander in 2018.

After that, he served as the chief of police for the Los Angeles Unified School District. The Los Angeles Times reports that Chamberlain resigned from his position as police chief less than a year into the job when the Los Angeles Board of Education approved an immediate 35% cut to its school police force in July 2020.

He went on to work as a public safety consultant and lecturer at California State University Los Angeles.

“Todd is a seasoned professional who has a deep understanding of fair, ethical, consistent and constitutional policing,” Batchelor said. “He has the executive skillset to run a large, complex organization like APD and put leaders in place at all levels of the agency. He also has a track record of partnering with community leaders to reduce crime, enhance community safety, and establish open, honest and transparent dialogue with community members. He is an excellent communicator and is astute at collecting and analyzing critical performance data in line with industry best practices.”

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Batchelor added that Chamberlain’s experience shows that he understands the complex challenges a diverse community like Aurora faces, and said he will bring a fresh perspective to the police department.

“I’m deeply honored to be selected to lead the Aurora Police Department and am committed to serving the city of Aurora, its dedicated police personnel, and, most importantly, the community we all strive to protect,” said Chamberlain. “I look forward to embracing the challenges and successes ahead, with a focus on fostering strong relationships, building trust, and ensuring collaboration at every level. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of our city.”

Chamberlain will be the first permanent Aurora Police Chief since Vanessa Wilson was fired from the position in April 2022. The department has since had multiple interim chiefs — Morris was the third.

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