In the midst of Aurora officials’ efforts to create a police oversight office, the department’s chief announced Thursday the creation of a community response team intended to improve communication between residents and police.

Aurora Police Department officials lauded the formation of the Chief’s Community Response Team in a news release Thursday, saying the team will help “usher in a better unified communication pipeline between the police department and the public it serves.”

The team of 15 residents, faith leaders, business owners, advocates and other local stakeholders held its first meeting Thursday, the release said.

Members will meet bimonthly with Aurora police leadership to talk about community concerns and priorities, department initiatives and other topics impacting public safety.

Following critical incidents, information will go to the team “when appropriate … to support transparency and informed community dialogue,” the release said.

One of the team’s 15 members is Salvation Army Aurora Corps Lt. Carl Esquivel, who said the team is important because it will help the public understand incident facts.

“At times, community conversations can include misinformation, and CCRT provides an opportunity to vet information and engage in honest, informed dialogue with APD about incident responses and policy,” Esquivel said in the release.

Chamberlain said the goal of the team is to strengthen police understanding of the community and make sure residents know what police are doing.

“We are intentionally evolving how we connect with those we serve,” Chamberlain said in the release. “The Community Response Team will help ensure we meet our community where they are by fostering meaningful, candid conversations about challenging incidents and hard topics, and engaging in productive dialogue to take purposeful steps forward.”

Planning for the team began in October with outreach to community leaders, APD spokesperson Joe Moylan told The Denver Gazette.

Aurora police officials then selected 15 people to serve as volunteers on the team. They will serve two or three-year terms, Moylan said.

Once the team has existed for a year, it will publish a public report, officials said.

The announcement came in the midst of Aurora officials’ efforts to stand up a police oversight office, funding for which has already been approved.

Officials have hosted three community meetings to talk to Aurora residents about the office and gather feedback.