In October of last year, Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson unveiled her five-point plan for rebuilding community trust, called “A New Way.” One of the most important leadership components of the plan is to elevate community relations to the highest level of the organization by adding a non-sworn member to lead those efforts to the Chief’s Executive Staff.
Chief Wilson is pleased to announce the appointment of Claudine McDonald as the Aurora Police Department’s Chief Community Relations Officer. Prior to accepting this new position with the APD, she was the Community Relations Manager for the City of Aurora.
In her new role Claudine will oversee and direct the operations of the department’s newly created Community Relations Section which includes Recruiting, Community Relations Officers, Aurora for Youth Programs, Police Explorers, the Chief’s Community Police Advisory Team and Chief’s Youth Advisory Team. She will also continue to serve as a liaison for the Aurora Community Police Task Force.
Claudine spent 22 years in the public sector working for a non-profit as the Director of Member Engagement and Inclusion before joining the City of Aurora. As the Community Relations Manager she advocated for the effective use of available human, community and social service resources in the city. She oversaw the city’s Human Relations Commission, Veterans’ Affairs Commission and coordinated groups such as the Aurora Key Community Response Team, Aurora Community of Faith, ReACT (Responding to Aurora’s Critical Topics).
Claudine has received two Governor of Colorado appointments. One for the Governor’s Asian Pacific American Advisory Council where she promoted diversity and competency to increase quality of services. The second where she was appointed to the Senate Bill 211 Advisory Commission to Cover All Colorado Kids to promote healthcare coverage for all Colorado children.
Claudine is a former two-term elected member of the Chery Creek School District Board of Education. She was the first Chicana/Pacific-Islander to serve in that capacity. During her tenure she was a continuous voice for addressing issues impacting students/families of color and inclusive excellence.
Claudine earned her degree in Communication from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has trained on the topic of Healthcare Diversity/Cultural Competency issues to over 70,000 individuals around the country and has worked to integrate diversity/disability perspectives into organizational structures.
“I am so happy that Claudine has accepted this important position on my Executive Team. I’m excited to see the new ideas and initiatives she brings to our organization and community” said Chief Wilson. Her vast experience, education and knowledge in the field of community relations will be a great benefit to the department as we move forward with our “A New Way” plan for rebuilding trust with our community”
“I am looking forward to continuing to advocate for our community while building stronger meaningful relationships with the members of the Aurora Police Department. I believe that listening and collaborating together are key to bringing about the changes we all want to see” said Mrs. McDonald.
Chief Community Relations Officer Claudine McDonald
Lieutenant Chris Amsler, PIO
Commanding Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
City manager and police chief lay out five-point plan to guide change and reform
(October 20, 2020)– Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly and Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson on Monday presented to City Council their plan of action for restoring trust in the Aurora Police Department, titled “A New Way.”
The plan has five points that specifically address reforms and changes to organization, policies and practices, both in response to recent high-profile incidents that have raised community concern, and to implement the priorities of Chief Wilson, who was named chief in August. The points are: A New Way of Operating, A New Way of Leadership, A New Way of Service, A New Level of Accountability, and A New Way of Engagement.
“We are committed to not only a more diverse police department that is reflective of the people of Aurora, but also a more racially equitable, bias-free and culturally competent agency that is responsive to the residents we serve,” Chief Wilson said. “I have heard the concerns of the community and have already made a number of decisive steps to change the way we operate. Restoring the trust of the community is rightfully the No. 1 priority for me and the Aurora Police Department, and I am confident in the support of our dedicated officers in moving these initiatives forward.”
There remain several ongoing internal and external reviews and investigations into the operations of the Aurora Police Department, including a city-commissioned comprehensive independent review of the department by 21CP Solutions, a global firm of national experts in the areas of civil rights and public safety. Every aspect of this review will inform and influence changes that are made in the Aurora Police Department and be incorporated as part of “A New Way.”
“A New Way builds on the direction and foundation set by the Mayor and City Council and the Public Safety, Courts and Civil Service Policy Committee, and we thank them for their leadership and attention to this crucial role the city plays in serving Aurorans,” City Manager Twombly said. “We recognize there have been problems in the past, areas that will need to change, and the paramount importance of the work ahead of us. The continued pursuit of a safe community for all requires the cooperative and engaged involvement of residents, and we must work tirelessly to ensure a thoughtful approach from our many professional officers, and from our community.”
Elements of the “A New Way” plan remain under development and will continue to evolve, but some of the key components include:
A New Way of Operating
Comprehensive, external review of the Aurora Police Department by national experts in the areas of civil rights and public safety is underway, which will inform and influence changes in the department, such as practices regarding use of force, and recruiting, hiring and retention
A New Way of Leadership
Commitment to community-focused and community-oriented policing.
Refocused department mission and vision.
More diverse leadership team.
Civilian (non-sworn officer) additions to the chief’s leadership circle.
A New Way of Service
Training will include voices of the community, with panels of residents sharing their fears and hopes and past interactions with police.
Implicit and unconscious bias and cultural competency training.
Incident reviews to reinforce good policing and address areas for change.
A New Level of Accountability
Expanded roles for Force Review Board and Independent Review Board.
Community voices on Chief’s Review Board and key vendor contracts.
Learning from and adopting recommendations of ongoing reviews.
Increased transparency in Internal Affairs reports and body worn camera videos.
A New Way of Engagement
Community Police Task Force review of potential oversight on critical incidents.
Changes to Civil Service role in hiring and discipline in pursuit of a department that better mirrors the demographics of our diverse city.
Increased mentoring opportunities with community leaders.
Further information about “A New Way” is available at AuroraGov.org/ANewWay, including an opportunity for residents to provide feedback on the plan. Because the plan will continue to evolve as the results of different reviews and investigations come in, the plan details will be updated on the site to allow the community to see the progress of different plan elements and additions.
City of Aurora Communications Department & Aurora Police Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
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