Aurora, Colo. – Sensitive citizens congregated at the community room of the Aurora Public Library to discuss pertinent matters concerning their city. Topics covered during the town hall attended by city officials and law enforcement included crime prevention, immigration, homelessness solutions, and urban development.
Aurora Police Chief Outlines Crime Prevention Strategies
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain opened the meeting with a reminder: Its chief forbade the public to safety and fight crime.
“Law enforcement, at its core, exists for one reason-to fight crime,” Chamberlain said introducing a series of strategic measures aimed at reducing criminal activity in the city.
Topmost of these initiatives is the establishment of a Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), a high-tech approach to crime monitoring that leverages advanced analytics and surveillance. Additionally, the department plans to implement hot spot policing strategies, which concentrically link law enforcement resources to areas concerning high crime rates, and forecasting analytics which use data-driven insights to optimize police presence.
Enhancing and standardizing CrimeStats, a system that analyzes patterns in criminal activity, is another major initiative for the crime reduction agenda.
“We’re studying the types of crimes occurring, where they happen, who the victims are, and possible perpetrators,” Chamberlain explained. “That allows us to focus resources where there is the greatest need.”
He provided, as an example, the Edge at Lowry apartment complex, where he said crime was concentrated. Many undocumented immigrants, he said, lived there, and resources were inadequate to create a secure community; as a result, the whole community formed a higher incidence of crimes within themselves.
“In many cases, gangs operate within their own ethnicity or race, preying on vulnerable individuals from the same background. We saw this pattern emerging, leading to rising incidents of violence and exploitation,” Chamberlain said.
He also noted that crime had started to reduce greatly after authorities acted by shutting down some of the problematic apartment complexes.
“Shootings and gun-related violence, kidnappings, and extortion have significantly decreased. There is a bend in the corner both for Aurora but let us learn not to commit previous mistakes and moving on with positive directions,” he averred.
Low-Level Offenders and the Homeless Population
The other major issue discussed in the town hall was homelessness and rehabilitation. Chief Municipal Judge Shawn Day introduced the H.E.A.R.T. (Housing, Employment, Assistance, Recovery, and Teamwork) Program that started in January. This is an initiative for low-level offenders who are also homeless so they can have a roof over their heads and an opportunity to earn an income through jobs.
Mayor Mike Coffman further elaborated on the city’s tiered approach to addressing homelessness:
- First Tier: Congregate shelters for individuals just off the streets, not ready for rehabilitation programs. Very minimal services are provided.
- Second Tier: Enhanced Co-housing facilities create an incentive for homeless folk to sign up for mental health services, recovery services, and job training.
- Third Tier: Top shelf for working, moving, and really getting the stability up.
This is to be achieved with this precise and purposeful structure of build towards eventual independence of those who will eventually be homeless but with the right support and engagement.
Colfax Avenue Revitalization: the vision of a community that is safer and more alive
Though accompanied by crime-fighting and homelessness initiatives, the plan offered by Mayor Coffman recently was indeed ambitious in scope: to revitalize Colfax Avenue, particularly for the stretch between Peoria Street and Yosemite Street. The aim of redeveloping this stretch is to enhance public safety while spurring economic activity and foot traffic to the area.
Concept models highlighted the proposed new housing and retail spaces that were meant to enliven activity throughout the day and night. With this, the hope is that there would be more “eyes on the street” to deter crime and nurture a thriving business district.
Growing Biosciences Research in Aurora
Closing the town hall, Coffman unveiled plans to expand bioscience research into the CU Anschutz Medical Campus. Aurora will gain from this as it seeks to enhance its image as a hub for medical innovation while creating bioeconomic opportunities.
The town hall meeting encapsulated an integrated answer from leaders who prioritized crime, social safety nets, and urban design for Aurora’s challenges. And as all these come to fruition, city officials assert their resolve to make Aurora a safer, more prosperous home for all.
