Consent Decree FAQs

In August 2020, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser launched a “patterns and practices” investigation into the Aurora Police Department (APD) after receiving expanded authority by the state legislature under Senate Bill 20-217, the Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity Act, to probe suspected abuses by police. Rather than focus on individual issues, the review examined the behavior of APD, with the goal of achieving full accountability and eliminating any structural or systemic problems.

On September 15, 2020, the city of Aurora received a report from the attorney general’s office detailing the findings of a lengthy investigation into both APD and Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR). The findings allege the departments engaged in the following patterns and practices:

• APD has a pattern and practice of racially biased policing against people of color, notably Black people. 

• APD has a pattern and practice of using force excessively. 

• APD has a pattern and practice of failing to document stops as required. 

• AFR has a pattern and practice of administering ketamine illegally.