Legal analyst discusses new report on how Aurora has been doing on its consent decree
9NEWS
[{'start': '0.580', 'end': '4.720', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '2.399', 'end': '6.400', 'text': "Today's justice gap takes us to Aurora,"}, {'start': '4.720', 'end': '8.080', 'text': 'where findings of racially biased'}, {'start': '6.400', 'end': '10.240', 'text': 'policing and the use of force by the'}, {'start': '8.080', 'end': '12.160', 'text': 'Aurora Police Department have required'}, {'start': '10.240', 'end': '14.320', 'text': 'constant monitoring by an independent'}, {'start': '12.160', 'end': '16.800', 'text': 'party. A consent decree was established'}, {'start': '14.320', 'end': '19.279', 'text': 'in November of 2021 following several'}, {'start': '16.800', 'end': '21.920', 'text': 'incidents, including the 2020 uh the'}, {'start': '19.279', 'end': '23.359', 'text': '2019, excuse me, death of Elijah Mlan.'}, {'start': '21.920', 'end': '25.279', 'text': 'So over the last four years, an'}, {'start': '23.359', 'end': '27.920', 'text': 'independent monitor has been analyzing'}, {'start': '25.279', 'end': '29.760', 'text': "the department's policies and actions."}, {'start': '27.920', 'end': '32.559', 'text': "And there's a new report showing how the"}, {'start': '29.760', 'end': '34.000', 'text': 'department is doing now in 2025. And to'}, {'start': '32.559', 'end': '35.840', 'text': 'discuss those findings, we want to bring'}, {'start': '34.000', 'end': '37.440', 'text': 'in our 9 News legal analyst Whitney'}, {'start': '35.840', 'end': '39.040', 'text': 'Trailer. I think before we get into the'}, {'start': '37.440', 'end': '40.719', 'text': 'crux of what the report says, just kind'}, {'start': '39.040', 'end': '42.879', 'text': 'of like jog our memories a little bit'}, {'start': '40.719', 'end': '44.320', 'text': 'about what a consent decree is and why'}, {'start': '42.879', 'end': '45.520', 'text': 'the Aurora Police Department has been'}, {'start': '44.320', 'end': '47.520', 'text': 'dealing with one for the last four'}, {'start': '45.520', 'end': '49.360', 'text': 'years. Yeah. And a consent decree is'}, {'start': '47.520', 'end': '51.520', 'text': 'used in a lot of different contexts. As'}, {'start': '49.360', 'end': '53.840', 'text': 'a practicing employment lawyer, I saw it'}, {'start': '51.520', 'end': '55.760', 'text': 'a lot of times in the context of'}, {'start': '53.840', 'end': '57.920', 'text': 'employers being put under a consent'}, {'start': '55.760', 'end': '60.480', 'text': 'degree for and somebody having to'}, {'start': '57.920', 'end': '62.800', 'text': 'monitor them in that context. Here, what'}, {'start': '60.480', 'end': '65.280', 'text': 'happened was after the police'}, {'start': '62.800', 'end': '68.439', 'text': 'accountability bill was passed, that'}, {'start': '65.280', 'end': '71.520', 'text': 'gave the governor the opportunity to'}, {'start': '68.439', 'end': '73.720', 'text': 'investigate various agencies, if you'}, {'start': '71.520', 'end': '75.760', 'text': 'will. And so AG Wiser actually'}, {'start': '73.720', 'end': '78.320', 'text': 'investigated the Aurora Police'}, {'start': '75.760', 'end': '82.240', 'text': 'Department and the the Aurora Fire'}, {'start': '78.320', 'end': '85.840', 'text': 'Rescue under the notion that they were'}, {'start': '82.240', 'end': '88.400', 'text': 'uh violating um civil rights. And they'}, {'start': '85.840', 'end': '90.799', 'text': 'ultimately concluded AG Wiser concluded'}, {'start': '88.400', 'end': '92.240', 'text': 'in the report that they were violating'}, {'start': '90.799', 'end': '94.079', 'text': 'they had a pattern and practice of'}, {'start': '92.240', 'end': '97.040', 'text': 'violating state and federal law'}, {'start': '94.079', 'end': '100.479', 'text': 'primarily because of racially profiling.'}, {'start': '97.040', 'end': '102.159', 'text': 'And so the city and the AG entered into'}, {'start': '100.479', 'end': '103.920', 'text': 'this consent decree. And as part of the'}, {'start': '102.159', 'end': '106.640', 'text': 'consent decree, as you said in the'}, {'start': '103.920', 'end': '108.799', 'text': 'leadin, the independent monitor then is'}, {'start': '106.640', 'end': '111.040', 'text': "reviewing Aurora's policies and"}, {'start': '108.799', 'end': '113.439', 'text': 'practices. And they just released their'}, {'start': '111.040', 'end': '115.200', 'text': 'report, uh, the eighth of 12 reports'}, {'start': '113.439', 'end': '116.560', 'text': "that they'll be issuing over the next"}, {'start': '115.200', 'end': '119.280', 'text': 'few years. Yeah. And you just said eight'}, {'start': '116.560', 'end': '120.640', 'text': "of 12. So we're nearing the end of this."}, {'start': '119.280', 'end': '122.000', 'text': "And you know, as I'm reading through"}, {'start': '120.640', 'end': '123.360', 'text': 'this latest report, one of the things'}, {'start': '122.000', 'end': '125.280', 'text': "that struck me because it's still"}, {'start': '123.360', 'end': '127.040', 'text': 'something that the community, you know,'}, {'start': '125.280', 'end': '128.800', 'text': 'feels very strongly about and is still'}, {'start': '127.040', 'end': '131.280', 'text': "protesting over, and that's the shooting"}, {'start': '128.800', 'end': '133.440', 'text': 'death of Kylin Lewis. But the'}, {'start': '131.280', 'end': '135.920', 'text': 'independent monitor actually applauded'}, {'start': '133.440', 'end': '137.440', 'text': 'the police department for the after'}, {'start': '135.920', 'end': '139.840', 'text': 'effects, I guess, if you will, because'}, {'start': '137.440', 'end': '142.239', 'text': 'they did take that officer who shot'}, {'start': '139.840', 'end': '144.400', 'text': 'Kylin off of the SWAT team and then they'}, {'start': '142.239', 'end': '146.239', 'text': 'instilled some other practices. So, they'}, {'start': '144.400', 'end': '147.760', 'text': 'got a thumbs up on how they handled'}, {'start': '146.239', 'end': '149.920', 'text': 'that. What What takeaway do you have'}, {'start': '147.760', 'end': '151.680', 'text': 'from this? No, that was a great takeaway'}, {'start': '149.920', 'end': '154.239', 'text': 'that because it was a very long report,'}, {'start': '151.680', 'end': '157.120', 'text': 'but really two of the takeaways was that'}, {'start': '154.239', 'end': '158.959', 'text': 'they used real life situations as'}, {'start': '157.120', 'end': '161.599', 'text': 'teachable moments. And so you just'}, {'start': '158.959', 'end': '164.720', 'text': 'mentioned cuz in Kylin Lewis, of course,'}, {'start': '161.599', 'end': '167.519', 'text': "uh he wasn't internally uh sanctioned in"}, {'start': '164.720', 'end': '169.920', 'text': "any way. And the DA didn't go after any"}, {'start': '167.519', 'end': '171.920', 'text': 'criminal charges. But here the'}, {'start': '169.920', 'end': '174.000', 'text': 'independent monitor found even though'}, {'start': '171.920', 'end': '176.400', 'text': 'there was no wrongdoing in that regard,'}, {'start': '174.000', 'end': '178.400', 'text': 'they found things that could have went'}, {'start': '176.400', 'end': '180.959', 'text': 'better that they could have done better.'}, {'start': '178.400', 'end': '183.519', 'text': 'And as a result, the police department'}, {'start': '180.959', 'end': '185.360', 'text': 'has implemented different policies that'}, {'start': '183.519', 'end': '188.400', 'text': 'the the monitor actually gave them'}, {'start': '185.360', 'end': '190.239', 'text': 'praise for. Same thing with Preston Nun.'}, {'start': '188.400', 'end': '193.360', 'text': 'And the Preston Nun situation happened'}, {'start': '190.239', 'end': '195.800', 'text': 'years ago with the unlawful tasing. He'}, {'start': '193.360', 'end': '199.360', 'text': 'ultimately sued, got a civil judgment of'}, {'start': '195.800', 'end': '202.640', 'text': '$400,000. And there they the monitor'}, {'start': '199.360', 'end': '204.879', 'text': 'used that specific scenario as a'}, {'start': '202.640', 'end': '207.120', 'text': 'teachable moment. Also pointed out some'}, {'start': '204.879', 'end': '210.319', 'text': 'changes that were made. So really what'}, {'start': '207.120', 'end': '212.480', 'text': 'stood out to me was that while these'}, {'start': '210.319', 'end': '214.480', 'text': 'situations or tragedies, we see them'}, {'start': '212.480', 'end': '217.200', 'text': "happening again and again. They're now"}, {'start': '214.480', 'end': '219.280', 'text': 'being used hopefully for good and for'}, {'start': '217.200', 'end': '220.799', 'text': "learning and for training so it doesn't"}, {'start': '219.280', 'end': '222.319', 'text': 'happen in the future. Time will see. We'}, {'start': '220.799', 'end': '223.840', 'text': "don't have a ton of time left, but I do"}, {'start': '222.319', 'end': '225.680', 'text': 'feel like I need to ask you about Todd'}, {'start': '223.840', 'end': '227.200', 'text': 'Chamberlain, who was sworn in last year,'}, {'start': '225.680', 'end': '229.040', 'text': "who's been at the helm here for, you"}, {'start': '227.200', 'end': '230.720', 'text': "know, a short period of time. I've"}, {'start': '229.040', 'end': '232.959', 'text': 'spoken with him. He takes the consent'}, {'start': '230.720', 'end': '234.560', 'text': "decree seriously. Do you feel like he's"}, {'start': '232.959', 'end': '237.040', 'text': 'moving the department in the right'}, {'start': '234.560', 'end': '238.720', 'text': 'direction when looking at this report? I'}, {'start': '237.040', 'end': '240.319', 'text': "think so. Now, it's hard to judge."}, {'start': '238.720', 'end': '242.400', 'text': "What'll really be interesting is the"}, {'start': '240.319', 'end': '244.720', 'text': 'next report because this report was from'}, {'start': '242.400', 'end': '247.200', 'text': 'August to February, August of last year'}, {'start': '244.720', 'end': '249.840', 'text': 'to February this year. He was just sworn'}, {'start': '247.200', 'end': '252.239', 'text': 'in in September. So really we just have'}, {'start': '249.840', 'end': '253.920', 'text': 'this time but they did say that the'}, {'start': '252.239', 'end': '257.040', 'text': 'department seemed to be taking things'}, {'start': '253.920', 'end': '259.120', 'text': 'serious. Um they did compared to the'}, {'start': '257.040', 'end': '261.359', 'text': 'last report there was some improvement'}, {'start': '259.120', 'end': '263.840', 'text': 'in use of force and recruiting and'}, {'start': '261.359', 'end': '267.120', 'text': 'hiring but they did have a reduction in'}, {'start': '263.840', 'end': '269.040', 'text': 'the area of addressing racial bias in'}, {'start': '267.120', 'end': '271.360', 'text': 'policing. So they went down in that'}, {'start': '269.040', 'end': '273.440', 'text': 'respect went up in another couple'}, {'start': '271.360', 'end': '274.720', 'text': 'respects but according to the monitor'}, {'start': '273.440', 'end': '276.639', 'text': "they're moving in the right direction"}, {'start': '274.720', 'end': '278.880', 'text': 'and and Chamberlain is seems to be'}, {'start': '276.639', 'end': '280.800', 'text': 'taking it serious. And we will continue'}, {'start': '278.880', 'end': '282.479', 'text': 'to take this serious because I think you'}, {'start': '280.800', 'end': '284.240', 'text': 'know um being transparent with the'}, {'start': '282.479', 'end': '285.759', 'text': "community it's that that's what this"}, {'start': '284.240', 'end': '288.240', 'text': "consent decree is about and that's our"}, {'start': '285.759', 'end': '289.440', 'text': 'job as journalists too. Keep them honest'}, {'start': '288.240', 'end': '291.199', 'text': "and make sure that we're reporting"}, {'start': '289.440', 'end': '292.720', 'text': "what's happening. Beautiful. And and"}, {'start': '291.199', 'end': '294.639', 'text': "that's one of the beautiful things about"}, {'start': '292.720', 'end': '297.520', 'text': 'the people power in this situation'}, {'start': '294.639', 'end': '299.520', 'text': 'because it was um as a result of George'}, {'start': '297.520', 'end': '301.840', 'text': 'Floyd and the death of Elijah Mlan that'}, {'start': '299.520', 'end': '303.759', 'text': 'we protested got these new bills in'}, {'start': '301.840', 'end': '305.440', 'text': "place and now we can see how it's"}, {'start': '303.759', 'end': '307.600', 'text': 'actually having an impact with this'}, {'start': '305.440', 'end': '309.840', 'text': 'investigation and the monitor being in'}, {'start': '307.600', 'end': '313.199', 'text': 'place. Has to affect change. Has to.'}, {'start': '309.840', 'end': '313.199', 'text': 'Yes. Winnie Trailer, thank'}]