The City of Aurora has announced a new leader for its police force. Todd Chamberlain, a veteran law enforcement officer, has been tapped by City Manager Jason Batchelor to become the next chief of police, pending approval by the Aurora City Council. Should the council confirm him on Aug. 26, Chamberlain would assume the position on Sept. 9, as per the City of Aurora.
With a career that dates back to 1984 starting with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Chamberlain's experience spans several decades and roles, culminating in his retirement as a commander in 2018. During a time leveraging his extensive experience in law enforcement, he went on to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District Police before moving into consulting and academia. "Todd is a seasoned professional who has a deep understanding of fair, ethical, consistent, and constitutional policing," said Batchelor. "He has the executive skillset to run a large, complex organization like APD and put leaders in place at all levels of the agency," Batchelor noted, as detailed by the City of Aurora.
Chamberlain is credited with spearheading various initiatives aimed at modernizing policing, reducing crime, and fostering partnerships with communities. This includes his time as the LAPD's first homelessness coordinator and launching the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement (HOPE) team. As a proponent of 21st-century policing, his work has been noted for its influence on policy reform, particularly those surrounding the use of force and community engagement. His dedication to addressing the needs of diverse communities and establishing trust has been a recurring theme throughout his tenure in law enforcement.
"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," Chamberlain said, according to the City of Aurora. Emphasizing collaboration, he added, "Together, we can make a lasting impact on the safety and well-being of our city." With the city's charter requiring the city manager to hire a police chief with the council's majority approval, all eyes are now on the forthcoming Aurora City Council meeting.
