The City of Aurora officially introduced Todd Chamberlain as its new police chief on Thursday morning after a two-year period without a permanent police chief.

Aurora City Manager Jason Batchelor selected Chamberlain, who will be sworn into office on Sept. 9, pending confirmation by the Aurora City Council on Monday.

Chamberlain, who previously held positions in law enforcement at the Los Angeles Police Department for 34 years and the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking the helm of a police department that’s in the middle of implementing changes to its policing and following court rulings against some of the city’s first responders. 

But he’s also joining the force just as Aurora has begun to see significant improvement in fighting crime.

Chamberlain most recently worked as a public safety consultant and university lecturer at California State University Los Angeles.

“I have seen when law enforcement is done properly. More importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to see when it doesn’t go right, when things aren’t done correctly. That skill set that I’ve honed in over 35 years of law enforcement, I really have a desire to bring to the city of Aurora,” Chamberlain said during Thursday’s press conference.

“It’s also about making sure that those individuals on the cusp of tipping into a gang can have a trajectory change before they actually fall into gangs,” he added.

Chamberlain told The Denver Gazette that he could not confirm the presence of the Venezuelan prison gang known as Tren de Aragua in Aurora: “I can’t give you that information because I don’t know.”

“If I knew, I’d tell you,” he said.  

Although he is unfamiliar with specific gangs operating in Aurora, Chamberlain said he knows how to deal with them and referred to his experience with gangs in Los Angeles as “extensive.”

Chamberlain said he plans to take a multifaceted approach to the Aurora Police Department, focusing on crime reduction, a strong relationship with the community, and risk mitigation — both outside the police department and within it.

He addressed the issue of excessive force and he said he is well aware of Aurora police’s history.

The department is emerging from years of scrutiny over the death 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 Attorney General Phil Weiser to investigate and compelled the city to enter into a consent decree to enforce changes to its policing. 

“Uses of force are gonna happen,” Chamberlain said. “But I want to make sure that there’s not a disproportionate number of use of forces. I want to make sure that each use of force is investigated thoroughly and properly.”

Chamberlain added he also wants to delve into the behaviors and practices that lead to such incidents. 

“I still believe in law enforcement,” he said. “I still believe we can serve, and I look forward to doing that.”

Batchelor, as the city manager, chose Chamberlain for the position. The public has until Monday night’s council meeting to provide feedback or raise concerns, the city manager said. 

Some community members questioned the lack of public input; Batchelor defended the process he set up to find a permanent police chief.

“This is the process we’re using,” he said.

Chamberlain also weighed in on the selection process.

“When you hear all the issues related to the selection process, the question has to be if the selection process worked in the past,” Chamberlain said. “Well, I’m going to be very candid with you, I don’t think it has. You’ve had five chiefs in five years.”

“I know that I’m here to commit. I’m here to take this organization. I’m here to say that I’m part of the city of Aurora, I’m part of the Aurora Police Department, and I look forward to what’s going to unfold,” Chamberlain said.

When asked about his long-term commitment to this position, Chamberlain said he’s here “for the long haul.” 

“Give me a chance. Let’s partner. Let’s collaborate, and let’s work together. I’m here for the long haul, I’m here to make those relationships that are gonna last,” he said.

Some long-term goals that Chamberlain announced include building trust within the police department and the community, bringing an evidence-based approach to problems, and engaging with the community.

Chamberlain also said that he wants to make sure that law enforcement and community members are supported.

“How can we all serve? How can we all make a difference? That’s what I’m passionate about, that’s what I’m here for, and that’s what I can’t wait to start,” Chamberlain said.

In a statement, Weiser, the attorney general, congratulated the new police chief.

Weiser said he expects Chamberlain to be “fully committed” to improvements mandated by the consent decree, which focuses on training for APD in areas of addressing racial bias, constitutional policing, and accountability and transparency.

Batchelor confirmed that an independent police monitor will take the place of the consent degree in 2026.

“We’ve decided that there will be funding in the 2026 budget to reestablish the office of the independent police monitor so that there’s a transition period from the consent decree monitor to the independent one,” Batchelor said.

Chamberlain said that he “supports” and “believes” in independent monitoring and that it should be applauded when done correctly in an organization.

“To have an agency come from the outside and actually dissect and do a biopsy of what your organization or what your agency is doing — it’s a burden, but it’s also a needed burden,” he said.