Aurora Police Department’s interim chief Heather Morris announced Friday that she is not pursuing the permanent chief position.

The city posted the police chief position on Monday and is in the process of recruiting, according to a news release. 

The city’s charter dictates that City Manager Jason Batchelor is responsible for selecting a chief of police and getting approval from the majority of the city council. 

Morris told the department Friday that she gave the decision “thoughtful consideration.” 

“It has been a privilege to serve the men and women of the Aurora Police Department first as the Interim Deputy Chief and for the last 6 months as the Interim Chief of Police,” Morris wrote to the department. “I am proud of the work our members have accomplished over the last 15 months since I have been a part of this organization.” 

Morris was sworn in as Aurora’s new interim police chief back in January, taking over the department’s top position after former chief Art Acevedo resigned. 

Back when she was first sworn in, she told the Denver Gazette that she would “consider that a privilege” if she were offered the opportunity to take on the position permanently.

Aurora police officials declined The Denver Gazette’s request to talk with Morris Friday after the latest announcement. 

It is unclear currently why she is not going to pursue the permanent position.

The department, and Morris, have been under heavy scrutiny in past months, specifically following the Aurora Police shooting and killing of Kilyn Lewis, an unarmed suspect wanted for attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of a 63-year-old man, in May.

At the past two city council meetings, dozens of protesters have showed up demanding accountability for the officer who shot and killed Lewis, putting Morris in the spotlight.

The shooting came during a time when the department was emerging from years of scrutiny for the police and paramedics treatment of of 23-year-old Elijah McClain, who died after an encounter with officers in 2019 as he walked home from a convenience store.

McClain’s death prompted the Attorney General to place the city to enter a consent decree to enforce reforms, a decree the city was still under when Morris took over and as the city searches for a new chief. It was unclear whether Morris will remain with the department. 

The Aurora Police Department has had a hard time keeping a chief in the role since former Chief Nick Metz, who was chief when Elijah McClain was killed, left the role in 2020. 

Vanessa Wilson was named interim, then permanent chief, in 2020. She was fired in April of 2022, when Daniel Oates took over as interim. Former Houston Police’s Art Acevedo was hired for the role in November of 2022, but he resigned in January.