Aurora and the Colorado Attorney General’s office have chosen the Florida-based company IntegrAssure as a monitor to oversee the consent decree for systemic changes in the city’s police and fire departments agreed to last fall. 

“Experience has shown us that a consent decree can be an extremely effective mechanism to catalyze reform, which in turn fosters community trust, reduces crime, and enhances officer safety,” said IntegrAssure president Jeff Schlanger in a statement Thursday.

Schlanger is an attorney who has worked as chief of staff in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and as deputy risk management for the New York Police Department.   

Aurora’ consent decree with the attorney general’s office arose from a report by Attorney General Phil Weiser that found the city’s police fire department has violated residents’ rights by using excessive force and failed to document stops as required by law. The investigation also found a history of the fire department using the sedative ketamine unlawfully. 

Weiser’s report was released in mid-September, a few weeks after he announced criminal indictments by a grand jury against three Aurora police officers and two paramedics in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. McClain, a Black man, was forcefully subdued by officers and injected with ketamine by a paramedic while detained, even though he was not suspected of a crime. 

Reforms outlined in the consent decree include: 

IntegrAssure will make reports on the city’s progress implementing the agreement in Arapahoe County District Court.  

“I believe the IntegrAssure team has a varied background and depth of experience that will ensure all stakeholders have a voice and a seat at the table over the next several years,” said city manager Jim Twombly in a news release. 

 The consulting firm participated in a virtual public forum in early January along with the other finalist, The Bowman Group, for the consent decree monitor position. Both firms also interviewed with Aurora’s management team, the city attorney’s office, leadership in the attorney general’s office and command staff in the fire and police departments.   

City Council will vote on a contract with IntegrAssure at its Feb. 14 meeting.  

The consent decree monitor is separate from an independent police monitor position Aurora plans to fill this year.