ADVISE AND DISSENT
Citizen council created to advise in Aurora police reform efforts wrestles with its role
Ted Del Duca, President Carolyn Renaud, Secretary
Luis Contreras, Treasurer Leaza Silver, Board Director
Mark Maryak, Board Director Jrace Walker, Board Director
DAVE PERRY Editor
Trump’s rst week leaves $9 eggs on the faces of MAGA voters
Lovin’ those cheap eggs and gas yet?
If you’re living in Aurora, or just about anywhere else in the country, it’s an easy “nope.”
Store-brand eggs are still almost $9 a dozen. The price of gasoline surged about 25 cents a gallon from the day Donald Trump took the oath of office, promising to right America’s economic wrongs from Day One, according to national gas-watch websites.
Instead, what Trump has done in his first week back in office is make liars out of those who said, “it won’t be that bad.”
In the time it took for the winter day to get about 2 minutes longer, Trump violated his oath of office at least twice, told dozens of lies and worked furiously to upset the nation’s precious structure of checks and balances.
Here’s the short list of what Trump supporters didn’t understand or believe would happen when they traded their Nov. 5 vote for cheaper soda pop and the ability to round up all the minority immigrants who came to the United States trying to flee their home nations made unlivable by people very much like Trump.
Way back last summer and fall, when Trump was just plowing through his usual daily crop of lies, all provably false, he said his “Number One” issue was inflation, which he blamed on the Biden administration.
Clearly, his Number One was just more of Trump’s Number Two.
This week, Trump said that ridding the nation of millions of immigrants was now his priority. That was now. This was then:
“When you buy apples, when you buy bacon, when you buy eggs, they would double and triple the price over a short period of time,” he told NBC’s “Meet the Press, just after the election, talking about Day One. “And I won an election based on that. We’re going to bring those prices way down.”
Or not.
“They all said inflation was the No. 1 issue. I said, ‘I disagree,’” Trump said. “I talked about inflation too, but how many times can you say that an apple has doubled in cost?”
Yesterday, Co-Vice President JD Vance, trying desperately to persuade himself and the nation that Elon Musk
is just another one of Trump’s advisors, who just never goes away, also started back-peddling on promises of being able to bring home affordable bacon.
“Prices are going to come down, but it’s going to take a little bit of time, right?” he said Sunday on CBS News. “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Et tu, JD? Et tu?
What the MAGA movement got, along with all of us, was a big bowl of slimy cold revenge, served up by Trump himself.
First, he pardoned each and every one of his terrorist groupies that tried and failed to help him overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The approximately 1,500 pardons and sentence commutations for the Jan. 6 insurrectionists included those for about 400 thugs and creepers who viciously beat cops and law enforcers who were trying to keep the insurrectionists from breaking into the Capitol.
What Republican and Democrat judges, voters and members of Congress agreed on after an exhaustive investigation was that Trump lied repeatedly about the election being “rigged” after he lost the election in 2020. After that, Trump promoted and coerced sketchy tyrants like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys to help gather a couple thousand people on Jan. 6 to riot and break into the Capitol in hopes of pulling off an insurrection and end the United States as we all used to know it.
Why so many Americans want to ignore what they saw and heard with their own eyes and what Trump’s fellow Republicans convicted him of, will remain one of the nation’s biggest mysteries and embarrassments.
The fiat he issued this week, shattering endless cases of due process and convictions based primarily on video evidence, made clear that Trump was taking revenge on the nation’s government, which held him and his fellow felons accountable for their crimes.
He said he was reversing a “grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.”
Members of Congress who had to hide and fend off the Jan. 6 attackers felt differently. Honest, cogent people, in-
cluding newly elected Western Slope Republican Jeff Hurd, told Colorado Public Radio this week he was “disappointed” that Trump would give “get out of jail free” cards to violent convicts.
“I’m a rule of law Republican,” Hurd told CPR. “January 6 was a dark day in American history, and it was an assault on our republic and the peaceful transfer of power.”
That kind of talk won’t get Hurd anywhere in Trump’s GOP.
Aurora Democratic Congressperson Jason Crow was less diplomatic about what Trump did “on Day One.”
“Pardoning January 6 insurrectionists who brutally beat police officers is an endorsement of political violence,” Crow said in a statement last week. “President Trump talks about rule of law and then lets cop beaters and killers walk free. It’s disgusting and wrong.”
But wait — there’s more.
Before the first week ended, Trump violated the Constitution, and his oath of office, by trying to end so-called “birthright citizenship” with an edict. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined about half of his peers by getting the courts to begin putting the the kaibosh on Trump’s constitutional folly. He tried a similar scheme later when he attempted to do an end-run around Congress and the Supreme Court, which upheld a wildly bi-partisan approved law banning TikTok.
A buck for an egg doesn’t seem so heinous in light of what Trump did do, instead of what he isn’t.
It’s OK. Trump is rapidly undermining the once gold-standard of public health systems that did things like protect the nation from food poisoning and plague.
Unaffordable Trump eggs may save your life since he’s working fast to destroy the agencies that ensure they’re not rife with Avian Flu or the next wave of medical malaise.
The takeaway? Better be getting your news and fact checks from trusted journalists and go back to just getting sight gags from Facebook and X.
Follow@EditorDavePerryonBlueSky,Threads,Mastodon,Twitterand Facebookorreachhimat303-750-7555 ordperry@SentinelColorado.com
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he travels from Las Vegas to Miami on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Hundreds in Aurora protest against Trump’s anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric
“WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING SO THAT THEY DON’T CONTINUE TO SEPARATE OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY,” JIMENEZ SAID. “TOGETHER, WE’RE GOING TO STRUGGLE TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE THAT IS OUT THERE ABOUT US.”
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
Hundreds of community members gathered in the snowy cold Jan. 25 at Fletcher Plaza to protest President Donald Trump’s threat of mass deportations, the demonization of immigrants, housing injustices and exploitation by the ultra-rich.
The rally drew as many as 700 immigrants, activists and allies determined to challenge national and local anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies affecting Aurora’s diverse population.
“When we stand together organized in resistance, we can break the machine of fear and greed that these billionaires are building,” said Moira Casado Cassidy. “The world that we actually deserve is possible.”
Cassidy, a Denver South High School teacher and a member, spoke about how many of her immigrant students have stopped coming to school for fear of being deported. She and other speakers said they were concerned about the fear Trump’s administration has spread across the Aurora area.
Immigrants and supporters say they are concerned about Trump’s threat of “Operation Aurora,” which has stoked fears among local immigrants of being rounded up in raids, separated from their children and families at school and work.
“What really happened here at some apartment complexes just not far from here on Dallas Street, involving the housing of some of our migrant newcomers, they were demonized and had made national news,” said Mateos Alvarez, the organizing director for Somos Aurora. “And ever since then, Aurora has been attacked on the national scale.”
Aurora found itself at the nexus of controversy since the summer when national media and Trump focused on a three northwest apartment complexes were enveloped in issues
surrounding Venezuelan immigrants and isolated incidences of gang violence and crimes.
The Edge at Lowry Apartment complex attracted attention by the national media and the Trump presidential campaign last year after armed alleged members of a Venezuelan gang were caught on video entering a unit last summer. Critics say Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky escalated media attention by promoting false rhetoric that violent immigrant gangs had taken over parts of the city.
Jan. 25, Aurora city officials outlined their plan to close down the Edge at Lowry apartment complex, citing ongoing criminal activity, including a recent kidnapping situation and poor property management as the driving factors behind the decision. City officials have repeatedly stated that the condition of The Edge and two similar units was the result of poor management by property owners.
The national attention has continued to spark fear of deportation of local immigrants and has resulted in discrimination of local Venezuelans in Aurora, according to multiple reports. Activists and residents say legally hired Venezuelan immigrants have reported losing work, potential work and have had hours cut because of concerns about their nationality.
The community’s frustration also extends beyond the national narrative to local policy decisions. Last year, the Aurora City Council passed two resolutions that declared the city would not assist any new immigrants who came to Aurora and would not use municipal funds to support them. This prompted the community organizations to step up and provide housing, food and other aid to the affected families.
“It was us, the community, the good Samaritans who came together and responded and brought them into our households, into
our buildings, and we found a way to integrate them into our community,” Alvarez said.
Maria Jimenez, a teacher and a member of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, said she was deported and separated from her children for nearly five years.
“There were sleepless nights, crying. I could barely sleep thinking about my children,” Jimenez said. “We couldn’t even talk about the psychological consequences of that separation.”
Jimenez said they need to continue sharing their stories, building unity and fighting back against the hostile rhetoric and policies that target immigrants.
“We have to keep fighting so that they don’t continue to separate our families and our community,” Jimenez said. “Together, we’re going to struggle to change the narrative that is out there about us.”
The crowd then took to the street for a short march to the Edge at Lowry.
“Trump, Escucha. Estamos en la Lucha,” the crowd chanted, which is Spanish for, “Listen, Trump. We are in the fight.”
Community members and organizers from the East Colfax Community Collective and the Party for Socialism and Liberation came together to voice their concerns over the demonization of immigrants in the area.
The march made a stop in front of the Edge at Lowry Apartments, where the residents are still facing significant challenges, including inadequate housing conditions and fear of deportation.
“We are the immigrants,” said Nate Kassa, an Ethiopian immigrant and organizer with the East Colfax Community Collective. “We are the Black, brown, Latino, Asian, working-class people of this community, and we are fighting for a future where we can afford
to live here, raise our children, and live in safe, dignified housing.”
Kassa repeated city officials’ claims that CBZ Management, the complex’s owner, was to blame for much of the resident’s hardship because of their neglect of the property and prioritizing profit over the well-being of the community.
“We can’t let these rich, wealthy developers keep on coming, trampling over our neighbors and thinking that they’re gonna get away with it,” Kassa said.
Kassa and other organizers from the Party for Socialism and Liberation said the rhetoric from President Trump and his administration has scapegoated immigrants for broader societal issues.
“My grandfather risked his life time and time again to cross the Sonoran Desert, just to give our family an opportunity to be on what was originally Mexican land,” said Alfonso Espino, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
He said his grandfather did not lose his best friend in the desert so that he could see hateful rhetoric resurface time and time again.
“Trump saw an opportunity to demonize immigrants so thoroughly that he could try to blame all the problems of this country on us,” Kassa said. “As if immigrants are the ones owning slums, raising rents and denying healthcare.”
The speakers and organizers ask community members to help organize more strategies for helping the local immigrant population this week at the Denver Liberation Center.
“We are out organized, but we’re taking care of that,” said Katie Leonard, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation in Denver. “We are going to get together and fight back together.”
Hundreds of protesters turned out to Aurora’s Fletcher Plaza on a cold and snow Jan. 25. 2025 to rally against Trump administration threats of mass deportations.
PHOTO BY
CASSANDRA BALLARD.
AROUND AURORA
DEA raid at alleged TdA gang party in Adams County nets 41 immigrant arrests
Rocky Mountain region Drug Enforcement Agency officials said they arrested about 50 immigrants early Jan. 26 at a “makeshift nightclub” party in Adams County, stating at the time that all of them were “illegal aliens,” and “dozens” were members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua prison gang.
DEA officials said the raid came after months of investigation and was not part of a new direction in enforcement dictated by the Trump administration.
DEA agents, working with unnamed local police officials, ATF agents and Homeland Security officials said the gathering was an “invite-only” event, and that guns and illegal drugs were confiscated during the arrest, according to the social media post.
All of the suspects were loaded onto a bus and taken to the GEO ICE detention facility in Aurora, DEA officials said.
The raid on the vacant building on the 6600 block of Federal Boulevard, just north of Denver, was carried out about 5 a.m. Photos and video of the arrests show agents and suspects in a dark, snow-covered parking lot.
“This was invite-only — dozens connected to the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang were there,” DEA officials said in a post on X social media Sunday morning.
Agents seized drugs including cocaine, multiple handguns and cash, agents said later in a release, adding that the investigation started under the Biden administration and is continuing under the Trump administration.
DEA officials said in a press statement that 41 of 49 arrested appeared to be undocumented immigrants, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
“TdA affiliated gang members and associates sent out invitations over social media to come to a party at this location,” 7News in Denver reported.
The DEA and ICE have been cooperating for decades and there was nothing new about the two agencies coordinating, officials said.
Jonathan Pullen, special agent in charge for the DEA Rocky Mountain field division, said about 100 agents and officers, including from the DEA, ICE, ATF and Homeland Security Investigations, carried out a federal search warrant for drug trafficking around 5 a.m. while the party was still going on.
Pullen said that as of Sunday afternoon, about 40 people remained in ICE custody.
“They ran all of the information while they were on scene and they determined, ICE determined, that they were here illegally or they had some other violation in the immigration system, and they detained and arrested them,” Pullen said.
A “handful” of U.S. citizens were also at the site, Pullen said.
A Trump executive order paves the way for criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua to be named “foreign terrorist organizations.”
Armed men linked to the Venezuelan gang were caught on video entering an Aurora apartment complex unit last summer in footage that drew Trump’s attention during the presidential campaign.
— Sentinel and Associated Press writers Buckley Space Force Base grows in impact, contributions reach $2.6 billion
Aurora residents driving by Buckley Space Force Base may not have noticed it, but the installation and its impact grew a lot last year, local and military officials said Wednesday during an annual State of the Base luncheon and presentation.
Amid big news was the annually released total for the base’s financial impact in the region.
“In 2024, we reached $2.6 billion
over a $50 million increase from last year,” Col. Heidi Dexter, commander of Space Base Delta 2 said. “For all the Swifties in the room, that means we’re in our spending era.”
The State of the Base event, held yearly by the Aurora Rotary Club and Aurora Chamber, was filled with laughs and insights on the inner workings of the Buckley Space Force Base.
“As the old saying goes, knowledge is knowing that tomatoes are fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put them in a fruit salad,” said Robert Devall, director of Military Affairs for Aurora Chamber of Commerce.
The Buckley Regional Military Affairs Council highlighted accomplishments of Team Buckley and outlined a vision for the future of the base.
The event featured Dexter and Chief Master Sgt. Sharma Haynes, senior enlisted airman at the base. They were joined by other mission partners from across the installation.
Last year, the local Military Affairs Council worked on a variety of initiatives to improve quality of life for servicemen and their families, officials said.
The year ended with new base housing options and programs, expanding living choices for enlisted members.
The base is home to more than 12,000 personnel, assigned to 117 “mission partners,” including the “Big Six.” — the 140th Air Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, the Navy Reserve Center Denver, the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, the Army Aviation Support Facility and the Air Reserve Personnel Center.
Buckley supports operations across all six Department of Defense services, civilian agencies and international allies. In addition to early missile warning and cyber operations, Buckley supports more than 94,000 service members, retirees, civilians, contractors and family members, fostering community connections while ensuring national and allied defense.
“These airmen and guardians provide unparalleled support for missile warning intelligence and cyber operations,” Dexter said. “These efforts continue to keep us connected and aligned with our national defense priorities.”
Other Buckley achievements included implementing a new Purple Star Initiative, which provides critical support to military family students as they navigate the unique challenges of frequent relocations.
“This legislation is not only open for our military families, but in powerful recognition of their sacrifices and contributions to our nation,” Haynes said.
She said Buckley and Front Range School Liaison Officers worked alongside lawmakers to bring the state and national project to fruition. Last April, Gov. Jared Polis signed the initiative into law, coinciding with the Month of the Military Child observance. This legislation provides support to more than 44,000 military families.
One of Dexter’s highlights from last year’s efforts was “CHAPPIE,” a hazard checker engineered by one of the base’s airmen. CHAPPIE looks like a dog robot and is “one of the Defense Department’s two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles, according to the website.
“This represents a legacy of innovation and is a testament to the power of new ideas and talents of our service members,” Dexter said.
Annually, the biggest news is how much the base contributes to the regional and national economy, which grew to $2.6 billion.
Dexter said that last year, the base was host to the third annual Future of Buckley Task Force, which convened senior community stakeholders and base leaders to discuss challenges, opportunities and updates related to supporting Buckley’s missions and Colorado’s military community. Key topics included energy resilience, infrastructure projects, 140th Wing recapitalization, community relations and base housing. The task force aims to develop a one-, threeand five-year strategic plan to address challenges and ensure Buckley remains equipped to safeguard America’s interests.
“As our base and its mission contin-
ue to grow, so will the economic contributions to Aurora Denver and ultimately Colorado Front Range,” Dexter said. “Buckley’s integrated forces are crucial to the community’s goal of sustaining a robust relationship with the defense industry.”
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer
Aurora activist Jamie Jackson wins House District 41 vacancy race
An Arapahoe County Democratic Party vacancy committee selected Aurora activist Jamie Jackson Wednesday as House District 41 representative.
Jackson won the seat with 10 of 19 vacancy committee votes.
Three Aurora Democrats applied to fill an open seat to replace former Rep. Iman Jodeh, who resigned from the position earlier in January after winning the open State Senate 29 seat in another vacancy contest. Jodeh won the state Senate seat, vacated by Janet Buckner after winning re-election to the position in November.
“I’m a proven leader who’s been doing the work in our community and at the Capitol, and I’m ready to bring that experience to this role on Day One,” Jackson said Wednesday after being nominated.
Jackson, Aly DeWills-Marcano and Anne Keke, all vied for Colorado State House District 41 seat.
Jackson, a Denver native and longtime community advocate, brings extensive experience in criminal justice reform and public health. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer at The Naloxone Project, Jackson said she has dedicated her career to saving lives and fostering second chances.
“What greater way to serve your community than to be able to save someone’s life and give them another chance to do things the right way?” she told the Sentinel earlier in January.
She also serves as the vice president of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action and the criminal justice chairperson for Aurora NAACP.
“Housing is a human right, and so affordability is one of the policy priorities that I have,” she said.
Jackson’s policy priorities include housing affordability, healthcare access and equity, criminal justice reform and evidence-based criminal justice reform. She is passionate about protecting aging populations and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare.
“It’s so important for us to make sure that the legislation that we’re passing is grounded and based on evidence because we don’t have money to throw away,” she said about careful legislative choices for a deficit budget.
Keke is a board member for the Aurora Public Schools. She is an immigrant from Cote d’Ivoire, educator and single mother who has boasts her record of community service and leadership.
DeWills-Marcano is a longtime advocate for working families and touted what she said is a deep understanding of the daily challenges faced by Aurora residents. DeWills-Marcano is married.
— Sentinel Staff
Evictions
looming, water, heat and trash crises plague Edge at Lowry
apartments
Residents of the Edge at Lowry apartments are facing new crises as an imminent eviction approaches, including broken pipes, no water, no trash removal and uncertainty surrounding relocation assistance being offered.
“Many of the established tenants have endured a lot already,” said Paula Forshee of Property Solutions Colorado. Property Solutions Colorado was hired by the city to oversee tenant relocation. “The compassionate and dignified thing to do is get them out of an unsafe situation and present them with options on a case-by-case basis.”
The complex attracted attention from the national media and the Trump presidential campaign last year after armed alleged members of a Venezuelan gang were caught on video entering
a unit last summer. Aurora city officials outlined their plan to close down the Edge at Lowry apartment complex, citing ongoing criminal activity, including a recent torture situation, and poor property management as the driving factors behind the decision.
The emergency closure, approved by an Aurora Municipal Court order Jan. 10, cites the buildings as “an immediate threat to public safety and welfare,” according to a statement by the city. Forshee’s team has been posting closure notices, conducting a resident census and coordinating relocation resources. Tenants must vacate by 8 a.m. on Feb. 18, with those remaining subject to trespassing charges.
In the meantime, tenants say they fear background checks and a request for “required documents” from relocators working for organizations and the county. They don’t know if the option will be available to all of them or if some will end up stranded, V Reeves, spokesperson for Housekeys Action Network Denver, said. They said that others fear their information could be taken straight to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, even though the city and the Aurora Police Department have said they will not.
Water shortages, heat, trash issues add to tenant hardships
The complex, plagued by years of neglect and criminal activity, is under scrutiny as the city works to address safety and public health concerns.
The attention being brought back to the buildings this week made the ongoing neglect of the complex and its tenants more apparent Friday after discovering that multiple buildings have been without water for the past five or six days after pipes burst during the cold snap last weekend.
Deputy Communications Director Ryan Luby said that the city has been alerted, and they are working to fix the issues.
It was discovered later in the day Friday that copper wiring was stripped out of the walls, and consequently, there was no power to heaters, which caused the pipes to burst in the building. Currently, five of the six buildings are without water service, Luby said in an email.
“There are significant heating issues in the five buildings,” Luby said in an email. “They need to get heating squared away and sort through the plumbing issues involving still-frozen and/or thawing and/or broken pipes.”
The city and the temporary property administrator don’t know the exact number of units without heat right now, but it was enough to cause frozen pipes, Luby said. The city’s temporary administrator and her team are currently getting temporary radiator-type heaters in place.
“Families have not been able to bathe their children or cook food for them, and they’re pretty desperate,” Reeves said.
Reeves said that police told tenants they could not take water from neighboring buildings, a claim the Aurora Police Department refuted.
Sydney Edwards, public information officer for Aurora Police Department, said that she spoke to the commanding officer who was at the Edge at Lowry yesterday, and he said they were looking into the water pipe burst, but none of the officers made contact or spoke to the tenants while they were there.
“Taking water from one building to the next does not warrant an arrest,” Edwards said. “We want them to have water.”
A video on Housekeys Action Network Denver’s Facebook, however, showed APD officers and fire fighters outside of the building. In the video, as police are apparently driving away, two tenants tell Reeves in Spanish that police had told them they faced arrest if they went into empty parts of the complex to get water.
The lack of water has forced residents to buy their own, but the support has been minimal. Reeves said that a volunteer had only delivered six jugs of water, divided among several apartments, clearly insufficient to meet the tenant’s needs.
Trash service has also been suspended, leading to the accumulation of
garbage outside the buildings.
“They are not able to get their trash taken, and they have been piling up their trash outside where the dumpster used to be, and they’re afraid that their children are going to get sick,” Reeves said. Luby said that the city is aware of that issue and that there will be trash service to the buildings early next week.
While the city and Property Solutions Colorado have promised relocation support, questions linger about the process. Tenants must provide identification and undergo background checks, which Reeves said has sparked fears of potential cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We don’t even understand if they’re actually going to get rental assistance from this or if they’re just taking note and sharing with the city and maybe with ICE officials,” Reeves said. “We don’t know who they’re sharing information with about the individual living there.” Residents, and much of the immigrant community in Aurora and the region report being increasingly fearful as the Trump administration rolls out some details about mass deportations, which Trump made as part of his campaign for the White House.
In addition to that, local immigrants say they are increasingly fearful of local police, unclear what their role will be in threatened immigrant roundups.
Forshee’s team is posting closure notices, conducting a census of residents and coordinating relocation resources using city and Arapahoe County funding. To qualify for assistance, tenants must contact Property Solutions Colorado, provide identification and undergo a background check. Spanish-speaking call takers will be available to assist residents.
Luby said there are options for what government identification will be required to relocate tenants. The temporary property administrator advised people that valid government-issued identification would be, for example, someone’s A-Number/Alien Registration Number/Alien Number assigned to a noncitizen by the Department of Homeland Security.
“But ultimately, as we noted, the temporary property administrator will work with folks on an individualized, case-by-case basis,” Luby said.
The costs are also a concern because there is no clear amount of funding, and tenants are unsure whether they will qualify.
“On the process in general, the city is shouldering the costs for now but will recoup the costs through a lien placed on the property,” Luby said in an email. “Arapahoe County tells us it has limited assistance available to support impacted residents by connecting them with available resources on a case-by-case basis.”
The Edge at Lowry has been a focal point of national attention after video evidence surfaced last summer showing alleged members of a Venezuelan gang entering a unit. Criminal activity, including a Dec. 17 kidnapping, led to nine arrests, with seven others in custody pending investigation.
“It would be irresponsible for us to allow anyone to stay at the property any longer, and the court agrees,” Aurora City Manager Jason Batchelor said in a statement. “We are grateful for our community partners helping us find meaningful solutions for these tenants, as Aurora does not have county-level human services functions.”
Patrol officers will monitor the complex during relocation to ensure safety and prevent further exploitation, the statement said. The city reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing state and local laws without engaging in federal immigration enforcement, which is in line with Colorado law.
“This latest effort marks a critical step in addressing years of safety and management failures at the Edge at Lowry while prioritizing the well-being of residents as they transition to safer living conditions,” the city statement said. — Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
Educators lauded for saving Aurora teacher’s life say it’s all in the Altitude
A game of “old man’s” basketball at Altitude Elementary School became a life-and-death cardiac scare but ended with a saved life.
Second-grade teacher James Christensen said doctors and nurses in the emergency room he was rushed to Nov. 24 told him his colleague’s quick response was what saved him from death by heart attack in November.
“You’ve got some good friends,” Christensen recalled he was told. “They saved your life. Without them, you wouldn’t be here.”
It happened Nov. 24, when an after-hours pick-up basketball game at the southeast Aurora school turned into a life-or-death situation. During the game, Christensen collapsed and staff members playing thought at first he was having a seizure.
Once they determined it was a heart attack, the staff jumped into action, calling for help and sustaining his life until rescuers came.
On Wednesday, Cherry Creek School District and Aurora Fire Rescue honored school Principal Scott Schleich and his coworkers for their quick efforts to save Christensen’s life.
According to everyone involved, it was thanks to that quick thinking and the coordinated actions of Schleich, his son, Garrett, Jordan McCord and Gary Dudak.
Eric Hill, medical director for Aurora Fire Rescue In Aurora said that when someone has a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital the national average of having an “intact survivor” who can return to work almost immediately is only 7%.
“In Aurora, we work really hard at this, and we are typically around double that national average,” Hill said. “That’s really because we put so much emphasis with our paramedics about how to do high quality CPR, how to deal with what’s important in a case and how to get there quickly.”
Principal Schleich ran for an automated external defibrillator at the school and administered it. Garrett Schleich and McCord performed chest compressions. Meanwhile, Dudak called 911, according to Lauren Snell, Cherry Creek Schools public information officer.
Schleich learned CPR techniques from a school nurse. He said he never expected to use it in an emergency.
“I never expected that I would need it, but when this happened in our gym, there was no thinking,” he said. “It was all reacting. And so I think because of that, time was saved.”
Despite thinking at first that Christensen was having a seizure, Schleich said that for some reason or “divine intervention” he decided to grab the defibrillator and have it ready before Christensen’s heart stopped. Schleich got choked up thinking of the possibilities of if anything went differently.
The room was filled with people saying how grateful they were for how successful the situation turned out.
Christensen laughed saying that he was still sore from CPR but already back at work. He said he did not know he had a heart problem but joked that now he had another thing in common with his mom, who was there with the rest of his family to celebrate his life being saved.
Awards were given to all of the men who initially helped him in the gym, including the Cherry Creek Hero Award that celebrates exceptional contributions to the community, Phoenix Awards from Falck Rocky Mountain, Phoenix Awards from the Aurora 911 for the helpers and for Toccara Turner the 911 dispatcher who helped with the incident and Phoenix Awards from Aurora Fire Rescue to the paramedics who responded quickly.
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer
POLICE AND COURTS
Aurora police and RAVEN task force seize 151 guns and 100 pounds of illegal drugs
in 2024
Aurora police and officials from a regional, collaborative anti-violence investigative network say they opened 64 new cases last year, confiscating 151 guns and more than 100 pounds of illegal drugs.
The Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement Network, dubbed “RAVEN,” is a task force led by the Aurora police department made up of detectives, special agents, crime analysts and others from area 16 law-enforcement agencies. The project’s mission is to identify and pursue “violent criminals, gangs and drug traffickers in the Denver metro area,” Aurora police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in a statement.
Last year, the project launched 61 new investigations and pursued 74 ongoing cases from before 2024.
“Those investigations resulted in the arrests of 127 violent offenders who face a variety of felony charges including homicide or attempted homicide, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and other weapons charges,” Moylan said.
The cases, not detailed, are filed in area district and federal courts.
“The joint efforts of RAVEN are producing data-driven prosecutions that matter to our communities,” U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch said in a statement.
“The District of Colorado is proud to work with our local and federal partners to continue these efforts to keep our citizens safe.”
Last year, the investigations and arrests netted 151 guns, including 114 handguns, 34 rifles, 10 explosive devices, and three automatic “machine guns,” Moylan said.
Investigators also confiscated 23 “auto sears.”
“An auto sear is a device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon,” Moylan said.
In addition to guns, police seized more than 26 pounds of cocaine, 32 pounds of marijuana, 3 pounds of methamphetamine, 28 pounds of powdered fentanyl and 25,500 fentanyl pills, weighing more than 5 pounds.
“Our work with the RAVEN task force highlights the critical role collaboration plays in keeping our communities safe,”
Merideth McGrath, Deputy Executive Director of Community Operations for the Colorado Department of Corrections and RAVEN Executive Board Member said in a statement. “By addressing violent crime at its core, we promote accountability while fostering safer, more stable environments for all Coloradans.”
Federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm officials say the collaborative police efforts are a boon to national intelligence used to monitor “crime guns.”
“These statistics showcase the power of partnerships in removing dangerous criminals and their networks from our streets,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers said in the statement.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said police collaboration nets results that individual agencies by themselves might not see.
“These accomplishments demonstrate the value of agencies pooling resources and expertise to make the greatest impact on public safety through a focus on those individuals and groups causing the most harm in our communities,” Thomas said.
The task force includes Aurora, Denver, Arvada, Thornton and Lakewood police departments and the Arapahoe County, Adams County, Douglas County and Jefferson County sheriff’s offices.
The Arapahoe and Denver district attorney’s offices, the Colorado Department of Corrections, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area and the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office also are part of the task force.
— Sentinel Staff
Volunteers Needed
Shovel snow for a neighbor in need Help an older adult in need this winter by volunteering to shovel their walkways and driveway. When you sign up, you will be paired with someone within walking distance or a short drive from your home.
Take a breath — there’s a yoga style for everyone
WHICH STYLE OF YOGA IS RIGHT FOR ME? HERE’S A PRIMER — WITH A CAVEAT
BY ALBERT STUMM, Associated Press
To some people, the word “ yoga “ evokes ritualistic chanting, long breaths and slow movement. To others, it means contorting your body into ever more complicated positions until sweat drips onto the mat.
In reality, it can be both — with a lot of variation in between. It depends on the teacher, who could be trained in several of numerous yoga styles: hatha, vinyasa, Iyengar, ashtanga, yin and more.
Though all styles involve poses (asanas), they differ in significant ways. Even classes within the same style can range from calming to vigorous.
So what is the best type of class for a beginner?
“The best is the one that works for you,” said Tim Senesi, who has been teaching yoga in Orange County, California, for 22 years. “There are many different paths leading toward the same aim.”
Here’s a primer on some of the most popular styles, followed by a big caveat.
The hatha/yin yoga styles
The term “yoga,” which is derived from the Sanskrit for “union,” actually encompasses an entire discipline that includes movement, meditation and lifestyle. Hatha, meaning “force,” technically is any kind of yoga class involving asanas. If you’ve ever heard of a sun salutation, for instance, that is a foundational sequence of 12 asanas that begin many types of classes. When it comes to classes listed as hatha, however, they generally are gentler with more focus on breathing exercises (pranayama). Poses are held for a few breaths and students usually move more slowly.
Hatha can be good for beginners who are looking to relax while improving flexibility and balance.
Another style, yin, is even more focused on recovery by working to stretch the muscles’ connective tissue. Students hold poses for 5 minutes or more, allowing the body to settle into a pose rather than pushing it.
The vinyasa/ashtanga styles
A more vigorous, flowing form of yoga, vinyasa coordinates movement with breath over a progression of asanas. Some higher-level vinyasa classes move at a pace of one movement per breath.
Often they will be called Flow or Power classes. They can be appropriate for people who are more athletic, but teachers still recommend that those students start with a beginner level.
“I wouldn’t really encourage them to start in a higher level vinyasa flow class because they’re not going to have the foundation to move safely through that,” said Anne Van Valkenburg, of Lanai, Hawaii, who has been training yoga teachers in a blend of styles for 18 years.
Another style, ashtanga, is similar except that it involves a set series of poses that students repeat day after day, often going at their own pace. As students get stronger, they advance to a higher series with more challenging poses, something akin to belt levels in martial arts.
The Iyengar style
This style involves the same poses as vinyasa but classes usually move at a slower pace — although they are not necessarily easier. The focus is more on precisely aligning parts of the body through small adjustments. Poses are held for longer and students rely more often on props including cushions, blocks or straps.
Iyengar is particularly good for people recovering from injuries, or for people who are already active but want to get the foundation of yoga before moving into different styles.
The caveat about choosing yoga styles
These days, most teachers blend various styles in their classes, and many classes aren’t billed with these terms. The few words describing the class should give you an idea of what to expect, but don’t be afraid to ask questions at the studio or reach out to individual teachers.
Ideally, seek out a beginner series, but if you can’t find one that’s right, don’t worry. Most teachers are happy to have beginners in their classes and will make accommodations.
Most of all, commit to trying a few classes until you find the style or teacher that resonates with you.
“I feel sad when someone tries yoga once or twice and they’re like, ‘Eh, I don’t like it,’” Van Valkenburg said. “There’s just so much out there that you might be missing something that’s super beneficial for your life.”
ABOVE: This image taken from video shows yoga instructor Tim Senesi in Orange County, Calif. in 2023. Tim Senesi via AP RIGHT: Yogi Stephanie Rodriguez practices yoga in the Edge sky deck at 30 Hudson Yards in the borough of Manhattan in New York on May 24, 2023. AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey
IF YOU GO
scene & herd
“Gee’s Bend” at the Aurora Fox
Building on a lauded Fox show from last season, “Gee’s Bend” runs through Feb. 23 at the venue’s main stage.
Written by Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder and directed by local theater and documentary icon donnie l. betts, the show focuses on issues surrounding the Southern Freedom Movement.
Set in the isolated town of Gee’s Bend, Ala., the play spans the years 1939, 1965, and 2002, following Sadie and her family as they navigate segregation, family struggles, and the Southern Freedom Movement. At the heart of the story are the family’s extraordinary quilts, which serve as symbols of comfort, creativity, and resilience. Ultimately, the recognition of these quilts as art empowers the women and honors their legacy.
“Gee’s Bend” builds on the Fox Theater’s exploration Black American history, continuing the conversation begun with August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean” in 2024.
Recommended for all ages, “Gee’s Bend” offers stories of perseverance, artistry, and the enduring power of family.
IF YOU GO
Event: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Through Feb. 23 with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. and Friday and Saturday curtains at 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Aurora Fox Arts Center, Tickets: $17-$52 with details at AuroraFoxArtsCenter.org or call 303-739-1970
She Kills Monsters, in Aurora
Action-packed board-game theater production? Critics say yes to “She Kills Monsters” opening this weekend at the Vintage Theatre in Aurora. Based on a episode of Dungeon’s and Dragons, “Qui Nguyen’s clever drama-comedy weaves together spectacular adventure with genuine emotional depth, using the framework of tabletop gaming to explore love, loss, and the parts of ourselves we hide from those closest to us,” Vintage officials said. “Through a blend of comedy, action, and heart, “She Kills Monsters” reminds us that sometimes the greatest quests are the ones that lead us home.”
“It will slash and shapeshift its way into your heart,” a New York Times critic said.
IF YOU GO
She Kills Monsters runs weekends through Feb. 23
Tickets: $20-$36
At the Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St, inside at the Bond-Trimble Theatre
Details and sales: www.vintagetheatre.org
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama features more than 40 paintings loaned to the museum by the Japanese American National Museum and Ueyama’s family, whose combined efforts to preserve his work have allowed the story of this accomplished and cosmopolitan artist to be told at the Denver Art Museum for the first time.
Born in Japan, Tokio Ueyama moved to the United States in 1908 at age 18, where he made a home until his death in 1954. This exhibition tells the story of Ueyama’s life, including his early days as an art student in San Francisco, Southern California, and Philadelphia; his travels abroad in Europe and Mexico; his role as artist and community member in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles; and his unconstitutional incarceration during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, now the Amache National Historic Site, in southeast Colorado.
IF YOU GO
Through June 1
Where: Denver Art Museum, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy Tickets: Included in general admission, which is free for members and for all visitors 18 and under.
Details: www.denverartmuseum.org
Cursive Live in Englewood
Indie rock pioneer Cursive takes the stage at the Gothic in Englewood to showcase their latest album, Devourer, along with favorites from their iconic career. Known for blurring the lines between indie rock and post-hardcore, Cursive’s thought-provoking lyrics and bold experimentation have made them a touchstone in modern music. Expect a night of dynamic performances, from the raw introspection of Domestica to the thematic depth of their newest work, Devourer, which explores themes of consumption, anxiety, and the human condition. Featuring Tim Kasher, Matt Maginn, Ted Stevens, and an expanded lineup.
IF YOU GO
When: 9 PM Jan. 31
Where: Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway
Details and tickets: $42.48 at gothictheatre.com
Breaking Boundaries:
New Art Exhibition Explores Creativity in Aurora
Downtown Aurora Visual Arts (DAVA) invites art enthusiasts to experience “Breaking Boundaries: The Future of Creativity,” a group exhibition curated by Alyssa Williams. The show shines a spotlight on the collaboration between emerging artists and their mentors, offering a glimpse into the future of creative expression.
The exhibition features a lineup of creators working across a wide range of mediums. Ceramic artistry by Prisila Vazquez-Nava, Joey Kerlin, Jessica Gerome, and Bambi Hernandez brings a tactile exploration of form and texture. Alternative material experimentation by Erica Rawson, Kayli Cottonwood, and Jasmine Maldonado Dillavou challenges traditional art-making methods. Meanwhile, drawing, painting, and two-dimensional works by Sunny Zheng-Herb, Raymond Gabriel, Faith Williams Dyrsten, Mike Hanson, and Tim Ulrich deliver vivid reflections of personal and societal narratives.
The show also includes innovative approaches to jewelry and metalwork by Xtina Nelson, Madeleine Adair, and Dianna Miguez, alongside Macey Boren’s integration of technology and art, which blurs the boundaries between physical and digital mediums.
“Breaking Boundaries celebrates the transformative role of collaboration between educators and emerging artists,” said Williams, a curatorial intern at DAVA and a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “It’s about innovation, pushing the limits of materials, and rethinking traditional approaches to art.”
DAVA, a cornerstone of Aurora’s art scene, is dedicated to engaging diverse youth in arts education that fosters creativity, opportunity, and community strength. The exhibition exemplifies this mission by encouraging dialogue and exploration among artists, educators, and audiences.
When: Gallery is open
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. The show is on exhibit through Feb. 24
Where: DAVA 1405 Florence St.
Tickets: The show and gallery are free
Details: www.davarts.org and 303-367-5886
Icons for a New West at Gallery 1261
“Icons for the New West” looks at the Western art trope by exploring icons. Artists invited to show work were selected for their current and contemporary view of the Western United States.
Western art is a more expansive genre than most art patrons believe it to be. The gallery invited artists delving into contemporary themes and unusual media in this show. In some cases, the work for the show is experimental; these pieces signal a new direction for these artists with their work and vision. This work is always exciting because it signals that the artist is pushing boundaries in their work and for their audience. Making art that takes risks is vital to the artist’s growth.
Other artists’ work pushes boundaries in subjects, and so these artists present the West through a different lens. These works are wonderfully fun for patrons because they challenge them to see through the artist’s eyes and experience the world in a fresh, new way. In this respect, artists are looking at Western “icons” and reimagining them or simply shedding the nostalgia so many genre paintings embrace.
Artists in this exhibition include Don Stinson, Maeve Eichelberger, Daniel Sprick, Tim Cherry, Corey Pickett, Terry Gardner, Dan Young, Tony Hochstetler, William Matthews, David Carmack Lewis, Susie Hyer, Ulrich Gleiter, Stephanie Hartshorn, Linda Prokop, Billyo O’Donnell, Jen Starling, Reen Axtell, Kate Breakey, Andy Evansen, Michael Vacchiano and Johanna Mueller.
IF YOU GO Show: Icons for a New West
When: Through Jan. 28
Where: Rose Fredrick Project Space at Gallery 1261, 1261 Delaware St., Suite 1, Denver https://buff.ly/4fHdURk
Rough and roses
This Valentine’s season, the Symphony of the Rockies, formerly the Arapahoe Philharmonic, invites you to embark on a musical journey at “Epic Love: From Shakespeare to Superheroes.” The concert seeks to capture the essence of love in its most dramatic and heroic forms.
Under the direction of conductor Devin Patrick Hughes, the orchestra will bring to life a program that spans centuries and genres. Tchaikovsky’s lush and emotional Romeo & Juliet Suite anchors the evening with its depiction of Shakespeare’s classic tale. From there, the music leaps into the 20th and 21st centuries with John Williams’ iconic Superman Love Theme and Michael Giacchino’s exhilarating Thor: Love & Thunder – Mama’s Got a Brand New Hammer, showcasing how love continues to inspire even the most modern of stories.
Opera lovers are treated, too, in highlights from Verdi’s La Traviata and Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, as well as the musical theater classic “Oklahoma” by Rodgers & Hammerstein. Operatic voices soprano Dawna Rae Warren and tenor Miguel Ángel Ortega Bañales are on tap for the performance.
The Arapahoe Philharmonic, now Symphony of the Rockies, has been a cornerstone of the metro arts scene for more than seven decades.
IF YOU GO
One show only: Feb 8 with curtain at 7:30pm
Tickets: $10-$50
Venue: Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St. in Lone Tree Details: lonetreeartscenter.org and 720-509-1000
Art Inspired by Frida Kahlo: Visions of the Self
The artworks featured in this show draw inspiration from Kahlo’s distinctive style and subject matter, reinterpreted through a diverse range of mediums and artistic approaches. From surreal self-portraits to colorful celebrations of Mexican culture, the pieces pay homage to Kahlo’s enduring legacy while offering fresh, contemporary perspectives. In their exploration of the self, the body and the intersection of the personal and political, the artists in this exhibition capture the raw emotional power and unapologetic authenticity that defined Kahlo’s artistic voice. Their works invite viewers to peer into the artist’s inner world, confront their own experiences and find connection in the universal truths that Kahlo’s art poignantly reveals.
This Chicano Humanities and Arts Council exhibition is a testament to Frida Kahlo’s continued influence and the enduring relevance of her artistic vision. Through its diverse interpretations, viewers are reminded of art’s transformative potential to illuminate the human condition and celebrate the beauty in shared struggles.
IF YOU GO
Show: Art Inspired by Frida Kahlo: Visions of the Self
When: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., through Feb. 14
Where: Chicano Humanities and Arts Council at 40 West, 7060 W. 16th Ave.
Tickets: Free and open to the public www.chacgallery.org
JUDGE AND JURY?
Aurora Citizen Advisory Council say power and clarity needed to help push through police reforms
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
Nearly three years into state-mandated Aurora police reforms to address abuses against people of color, a Community Advisory Council that is part of the process struggles against internal conflict amid the wait for progress.
“The independent monitor is rubber-stamping the racial biases that persist within the department by not assessing the translation of leadership efforts to reform the department to staff,” former advisory council member Gianina Horton told city council members last August when she resigned from the group.
Some current and former members of the Aurora police reform Community Advisory Council say influence from the city and its hired consultant has diminished the advisory council’s role.
The CAC was created in 2022 as part of a consent decree imposed by state Attorney General Phil Weiser after an investigation into numerous claims and instances of the Aurora Police Department using excessive force, especially against people of color. The decree and the advisory council came after years of city turmoil over the treatment of minorities by Aurora police. Controversy over the 2019 death of Elijah McClain also led directly to the decree.
The attorney general ruled that Aurora had exhibited “patterns and practices” of abusing minorities and must incorporate a wide range of reforms over five years.
The consent decree is implemented jointly by city management, the police department and IntegrAssure, a contracted company of police experts dubbed as an “independent monitor” in the reform process.
IntegrAssure’s Jeff Schlanger, who oversees and coordinates most of the Aurora reform goals, reviews and helps guide projects such as training and developing new police policies. Aurora records show the city has paid IntegrAssure $3,130,021 to date for its services.
One component of reform is the Community Advisory
Council, a panel of 14 city residents whose stated role is to review the reform process and police procedures, provide feedback and criticism and relay information to the community at large, according to consent decree documents.
The very role of the council is the source of a large part of consternation among members. Many council members say they see their role as getting feedback from the community on police reform changes and progress and relay that to police and city officials. Most members told the Sentinel they want to focus on their “advisory” role individually and as a group.
Schlanger, aware of the consternation, said he sees the group primarily as a conduit between different Aurora communities and the city. He said CAC members have no role in actually advising police in any authoritative or oversight capacity.
The recent squabbling over mission or semantics belies the fact that at least some current and former CAC members were required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements with the city, which by their legal nature are intended only for city officials who to review sensitive or confidential materials, including body-worn camera footage and other non-public documents. Schlanger said it is a standard practice in oversight settings to ensure that sensitive information is handled responsibly, protecting public safety, individual privacy and the integrity of ongoing investigations.
But the council doesn’t see confidential materials like that, members said. Meetings are open to the public. In November, the council was publicly briefed by police officials on progress made in reforms and the consent decree.
Schlanger recently said that the advisory council is “not a deliberative body nor is it an advocacy body.” It is a group of community members with diverse views, and constituencies chosen for their ability to hear from and speak to various segments of the community on matters relevant to public safety reform in Aurora.
“This dual role of gathering and disseminating information is essential to help ensure that the reforms envisioned by the Consent Decree are both effective and reflective of the community’s needs and expectations,” Schanger said in an email. “The CAC’s role is advisory to the monitor.”
Attorney General Phil Weiser’s spokesperson, Lawrence Pacheco said that when Weiser wrote the Aurora Consent Degree, he wanted the advisory council to act in both capacities.
“The Community Advisory Council should be able to do both — be a conduit for sharing information with the city and larger Aurora community, and provide meaningful input into the law enforcement reforms being adopted,” Pacheco said in an email.
A current advisory council member, Pastor Thomas Mayes, told the Sentinel in April that the meaning had changed during his time on the council, and it had gone from an advisory group to more of an advocate for the community.
“(IntegrAssure) kind of fell in line with the police department with the refusal to face up to the hard questions,” Mayes said previously. “As long as you played softball with them, they were good. When we started really playing hardball, really asking the hard questions, that’s when the friction came.”
Selection of new police chief prompted criticism from much of the CAC
At the end of last summer, the advisory council was especially critical of how the city management hired the most recent police chief, Todd Chamberlain. His hiring was announced after the fact, without public notice or consultation with the CAC. Over the past five years, Aurora has had seven police chiefs, and controversy has churned inside the de-
partment.
“(The consent decree) did not address how a new police chief would be selected without community input,” William Gondrez, a current CAC member, said in an email. “There was and still is a lack of transparency for the credibility for the public, their feelings, as a whole by the city, the monitor and/or the police department.”
The private appointment process of Chamberlain was listed in Consent Decree’s Monitor Seventh Report as a decision made by city management, Jason Batchelor.
“This limitation, according to the city manager, was necessitated by his desire to hire the best possible candidate and the reluctance of many potential candidates to participate in an open public process in which their identities would be revealed,” the report stated.
Other members were also critical of a process that precluded public comment on a position that could make or break reform progress.
CAC shakeup last year left some members shaken
Some CAC members said recent changes and shake-ups for the group have also left them concerned about its role and the ability of the community to build trust in the police reform process.
Some members have been vocal critics of the speed and direction of reform efforts, leading to conflict.
Shortly after the publication of an April 15, 2024, progress report, Schlanger informed members of the Community Advisory Council in an email that all of their appointments were being terminated and that they would have to reapply if they wanted to continue to serve.
Council members said there was no clear understanding of why the mass-firing was rolled out, leading them to speculate that police, city managers, city council members or IntegrAssure were unhappy with a council that was vocal and persistent.
Omar Mongomery, president of the Aurora NAACP and one of the original members of the Community Advisory Council, said he felt discouraged by the blanket dismissal decision since the original advisory council members had worked on a plan they were ready to present. He said that having them reapply resulted in much work being lost. Montgomery did not reapply.
Instead, Montgomery said he is now working through the NAACP to create a genuinely independent monitor structure to oversee the Aurora Police Department when IntergrAssure’s contract is finished.
He said that when the contract ends, there is an opportunity for a new independent oversight structure to make sure the work is being done and that police abuse of force cases continue to be reviewed. The challenge, he said, will be getting the city council on board. Three years ago, city management actually budgeted and planned for such an oversight project. It was scuttled by city lawmakers. The cost of the undescribed police oversight mechanism would be borne by the city.
Schlanger said the reconstitution of the council was not meant to prevent meaningful oversight and that the firm hopes it will lead to the group evolving to include a greater diversity of viewpoints.
He also said some advisory council members had “been more active than others” and that “the ability to collaborate with fellow council members is an imperative.”
“We have worked extremely well with the Community Advisory Council,” he said in a previous Sentinel report. “I just want to make sure that people who didn’t get a chance have an opportunity to at least reapply with the goal of getting the broadest perspectives but also expanding the membership by a few.”
Meanwhile, some former members like Maisha Fields, daughter of former state Sen. Rhonda Fields, now an Arapahoe County commissioner, said she felt it was a way to push her out.
Schlanger “was not open to receiving our feedback, and if you do speak up, you were penalized publicly,” she said.
Fields said she was rebuked when suggesting letting officers in training have more input to voice their opinions while learning, saying they would participate more earnestly.
“The first training was very punitive, and it didn’t create a culture of learning,” Fields said. “When I brought it up to Jeff, he told me I was causing problems. I was the problem child on the consent degree advisory board.”
She said that when Montgomery was still on the board and asked Schlanger to apologize for the way he talked to Fields, Schlanger said he would “if she wanted him to.”
Montgomery confirmed he did ask Schlanger to apologize to Fields.
Fields said that was when people started leaving or refusing to reapply.
Horton, a former advisory council member and an advocate with the Denver Justice Project, who worked as the project manager for the Denver Office of the Independent Monitor, resigned at an Aurora City Council meeting during public comment Sept. 9.
Horton told city council members. “It is continuously evident that between bad city management and Aurora Police Department, your toxicity will have lasting and devastating consequences for Aurorans.”
Horton called for significant structural change, advocating for establishing a fully funded independent civilian oversight office by 2026.
Ratings matter
Horton and Fields, along with others still on the advisory council, said that the rating system to show progress in the consent decree is not accurate, with Fields calling it “manufactured.”
The consent degree progress gauging system uses a “Harvey Ball,” a round pie graph-looking ideogram that depicts the degree to which a specific item meets requirements. Many advisory council members said the system made it difficult to understand how Schlanger rated different topics.
“The Harvey Balls rating system is not efficient for the public to ascertain or measure effectively,” Gondrez said. “This makes it very difficult to disseminate readable information about what is really going on with the ‘boots on the ground.’”
Some members also suspect that others were chosen for the second round of the advisory council because they more closely aligned with police interests rather than to represent the broader community.
Schlanger disagreed.
“The selection process is meant to ensure the group includes individuals with a variety of perspectives and experiences to foster robust and meaningful discussions,” Schlanger said in an email.
A new controversy arose when Hancock joined the council, with some members saying he has a clear conflict of interest because he is the husband of a member of the city council. Schlanger said he chose Hancock to serve on the council because he had relevant experience.
Hancock did not say in his advisory council biography that he is married to Hancock. No other members detailed their spouses in their bios, but as a council member, only Stephanie Hancock has potential influence over the IntegrAssure contract.
“I want to clarify that there is no conflict of interest related to whom I am married,” Hancock said in an email.
Advisory council concern about conflicts of interests surface about two other new appointees to the group. Rodriguez, who is an Arapahoe County Sheriff’s deputy, and Webster, who is a City of Aurora employee.
Although not every advisory council member listed job titles and employers in their bio, Webster did not have any mention of her employment with the city on her bio until asked by the Sentinel about her employment.
The City of Aurora confirmed that Cassandra Webster is
Members of the Citizen Advisory Council
The advisory council, the chairperson and the vice chairperson, are all appointed by the independent monitor, as spelled out in the consent decree.
Jeanette Rodriguez (Chairperson) is a South American immigrant who migrated to the United States 30 years ago. Rodriguez is a former educator at Jefferson County Schools, a real estate agent, an auto repair shop owner, a current Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy and a pastor. She is also a wife and mother of two grown children. She serves as a co-chair of the Aurora Immigrant and Refugee Commission and a member of the Community Policing Advisory team.
Cassandra La’Chae Webster (Vice-Chairperson) is a learning and development specialist in the Training and Development section of the City of Aurora’s Human Resources Department. She is a grandmother of seven and moved to Colorado from Oklahoma sometime after 2023. Her work experience includes Learning and Development, project management, content creation and human relations.
Melissa Berglund has been a resident of Aurora since 1979. She has twenty years of local, state and national child welfare experience, including casework for Arapahoe County Child Protection Services. Her experience includes residential treatment from direct practice to training, coaching and prevention.
Ivania Maricela Romero Campos is an entrepreneur and Salvadoran American working to bring a Salvadoran consulate to Aurora. She has been a cosmetologist for 25 years and runs multiple local businesses, including 503 Barber Shop and Salon.
William Gondrez, an Aurora resident since 1992, is a U.S. Army veteran who retired at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center after over 20 years of service. He serves on the city’s Citizen’s Water Advisory Committee, helps with 501(c)(3) grants through Spirit of Aurora, and leads the Northwest Aurora Neighborhood Organization as its president. Gondrez also works as an Early Childhood educator for Aurora Public Schools.
Michael Hancock is married to Aurora City Councilmember Stephanie Hancock. He is a retired high-tech technology and business executive who runs his own technology consulting company and independent record label. Michael’s experience includes extensive business and technology experience.
The Rev. Reid Hettich has been an Aurora resident since 1985. He has been the pastor of two congregations in Aurora and currently serves as lead pastor of Mosaic Church of Aurora. He has been the Chairperson of the Aurora Community of Faith, the Aurora Strong Resilience Center, Aurora Community Connections and the Aurora Economic Opportunity Center. Currently, he is the Chairperson of Aurora’s Key Community Response Team, a member of the Community Policing Advisory Team, and sits on other nonprofit boards. He is a husband, father and grandfather.
a learning and development specialist in the Training and Development section of the city’s Human Resources Department.
“There was no bad intent as my position was fully disclosed to the monitor during the selection process and addressed directly by him at a CAC meeting,” Webster said. “Having said that, given my desire for full transparency, I will have my bio on the website updated.”
Multiple advisory council members said some new members made them feel they couldn’t be completely honest about their opinions about the consent decree.
“Simply put, the role of the CAC as an advisory body does not lend itself to decisions or actions that would create substantive conflicts,” Schlanger said. “That being said, any perceived conflicts of interest brought to my attention have been carefully evaluated to ensure that each member is able to perform their function as described above.”
Feedback on police training and changes gets bumpy
One instance current and former advisory council members gave they say illustrates ambiguity in their role and mission focused on how police train current and new officers to recognize racial bias and to avoid acting on it.
The Aurora Police Department Consent Decree website describes creating and addressing racial bias through the creation of training and best practices related to officer stops, arrests and uses of force and to engage in critical decision-making by acknowledging the role that bias can play in enforcement decisions and developing strategies to combat bias.
“The department is striving to make officers aware of implicit bias, but moreover, to stress empathy and humanity in all their interactions with all individuals,” Schlanger said in an email.
In the most recent December meeting reviewing the Oct. 15 report for Decree’s Monitor Seventh Report, which spanned from Feb. 16-Aug. 15, Chamberlain said there is still room for improvement in bias training. He said the department had the consent decree monitor team — the police base team that evaluates the monitor — attend the bias training.
“Honestly, I don’t think they were overly thrilled,” he said. “I think there are still some opportunities to improve it
›› See JUDGE, 21
Becky Hogan has been an Aurora resident and an active community volunteer for 19 years. She was a small business owner in Aurora with a background in economic development and land development consulting. She is currently serving as a Second Vice Chair of the Aurora Planning Commission. Hogan is the widow of the previous Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan.
Anne Keke is an immigrant from Cote d’Ivoire and has lived in Colorado since 2001. She worked with the District Attorney’s Office in the 18th Judicial District in the Juvenile Probation Department. She is an instructor of Career Readiness with the Colorado Early Colleges, working as the Restorative Justice Coordinator. She serves on the Aurora Public School Board and is an active member of the African Leadership Group.
Muemang Ling, a refugee from Burma, now Myanmar, and a 16-year Aurora resident, is studying Sociology, Political Science and Ethnic Studies at Colorado State University. She works as a School Program Navigator at Lutheran Family Services, supporting refugee youths in education and resettlement. Previously, she served as a senator for The Associated Students of Colorado State University and worked at the Asian Pacific American Cultural Center, advocating for multinational students.
Thomas Mayes is a Colorado native and 38-year Aurora resident. He is a Vietnam veteran with 23 years of government service and 32 years as a senior pastor in Aurora. He has been actively serving the Aurora community since 1990, including serving different roles on the Aurora Branch for the NAACP and many city-related groups involving police reform and racial bias.
Julie Ressalam, a researcher and doctoral candidate at the Colorado School of Public Health, has lived in Aurora for seven years. She served on Aurora’s Immigrant and Refugee Commission from 2017 to 2022, including terms as chair and vice chair, where she developed the Aurora Immigrant Integration Plan and addressed key policy issues such as voting access, healthcare utilization, and resource allocation for immigrant families. Currently, she works to coordinate medical, social, and public health systems to improve health equity and dismantle structural racism.
Ray Washington is a Denver native, coach and teacher. He has worked with multiple organizations to provide opportunities to and for the youth.
Amy Wiles is a 22-year Aurora resident. She serves as the Director of Strategy and Business Development for United HealthCare. She is a mother to two sons and volunteers at a variety of local events and causes, including the Special Olympics and the Human Resources Committee for the city of Aurora.
On a night in which capes were the order of the day and perspective in great abundance, Nolan Williams rose to the occasion Jan. 24.
The Regis Jesuit senior scored go-ahead and insurance goals as a part of hat trick in a 5-3 victory over Cherry Creek at Family Sports Center that was about so much more than the final result.
The Raiders — and some of their fans — donned yellow capes for the game in honor of Kick Ash Cancer, an organization dedicated to helping children battling cancer.
“Before the game, we were really concentrating on why we were wearing the capes. They use sports analogies all the time like ‘this is going to be a war’ or ‘this is going to be the fight of your life.’
“But when you really step back, sports are not war and we’re really not fighting for our lives. The young boys and girls who are suffering from osteosarcoma and other childhood cancers are in a fight for their life.
Heroes on ice
“We wore the capes for them and they were watching the game, so we made videos for them during the intermissions,” Williams said. “What they are going through is way harder than we’re going through on the ice, so hopefully we give them a little bit of hope.”
BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor
Coach Terry Ott’s Raiders — the defending Class 5A state champions on the ice — have created annual traditions designed to contributors to their community when they are off their skates.
Earlier in the season, they had their annual Teddy Bear Toss, where stuffed animals were thrown onto the ice after Regis Jesuit’s first goal and then were collected and distributed by the team at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Later, the Raiders continued a recent partnership with Kick Ash Cancer, which was founded by Taylor Ash, a hockey player herself at Summit High School who diagnosed with bone cancer in 2018. It is one of the organizations that seek to make an impact on childhood cancers, which the American Cancer Society estimates could include 9,550 newly diagnosed children under the age of 15 in 2025.
Regis Jesuit wore yellow capes during warmups and introductions and collected donations to contribute to Kick Ash Cancer as in years past.
“We really focus on the bigger picture,” Ott said.
...We hear from Taylor Ash all the time about what it meant to her to have people that she didn’t even know send her a card or words of encouragement. Getting to see just how much these videos and cards mean to somebody who is in a battle means a lot. Don’t take it for granted.”
Cherry Creek coach Jeff Mielnicki was glad his team got to be a part of the night.
“We got a chance to donate to the Kick Ash Cancer and those things make me really happy,” Mielnicki said. “I don’t think any child should have to suffer like that.”
Williams said everything the team does goes along with what Regis Jesuit aims for as a whole.
“One of our mottos at school is to be men with and for others,” he said. “It’s about doing something bigger than yourself and making an impact on your community.”
On top of their impactful contributions in the community, Regis Jesuit is playing well — at least in spurts — on the ice on an 8-5-1 start.
Ott has grown tired of his team facing early deficits as it has for two straight games, after it fell down 3-0 and rallied before losing 4-3 to Heritage Jan. 17 and then spotting the Bruins two goals before roaring back to earn the victory.
“This team in particular has a tendency to not start on time and we’ve dug ourselves a lot of holes,” Ott said. “But we appreciate the character they show and we know it will shine through regardless of what happens. ...If we can figure out how to play a full three periods, we might be dangerous.”
The Raiders had to display plenty of grit to work their way back into a contest against Cherry Creek, which they tied 2-2 in the first meeting Dec. 20. The
Bruins matched their goal total through the first 17 minutes in the rematch, however, as Austin Katz and Jack Linville scored early in the opening period.
Regis Jesuit, however, came out with three goals in the first five minutes of the second period as junior Alexander Warot and Williams scored even strength and senior Harry Sorensen tallied on the power play.
Cherry Creek got some momentum back a few minutes later with a tying goal from Matthew Lopez, but Williams made sure the momentum lasted just 12 seconds when he skated up the wing, switch
“I was going to shoot it and when I was lining it up, the goalie took the bait,” Williams said. “I brought it backhand went far side. It felt good, but to be honest, it was a little lucky.”
Not as lucky as his last goal in the third period, when he passed in front to a teammate, but the puck deflected off a Cherry Creek defender and went into the net. Sophomore goalie Easton Sparks made it stand up with a wild sequence of saves in the final two minutes with the Bruins playing 6-on-4.
ICE HOCKEY
ABOVE: Regis Jesuit sophomore goaltender Easton Sparks reacts after he finished with 25 saves, many of which came in the third period as the Raiders rallied for a 5-3 victory over Cherry Creek Jan. 24 at Family Sports Center. Regis Jesuit played the game in honor of the Kick Ash Cancer foundation, which is dedicated to helping kids with cancer. In one of their annual traditions, the Raiders wore yellow capes in warmups before the game and made videos for kids they corresponded with remotely. Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel
Standing strong: Regis Jesuit senior defender Zachary Lorenzo (5) widens out as he waits for Cherry Creek’s Garrett Linville (6) to take a shot or pass during a late sequence in the Raiders’ 5-3 win over the Bruins on Jan. 24 at Family Sports Center. Regis Jesuit rallied from a 2-0 deficit to earn its eighth win of the season. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
BOYS WRESTLING
Grandview rolls to Centennial League title
The Grandview boys wrestling team has made a habit of winning tournaments this season and continued that by taking the Centennial League Championships Jan. 25 at Arapahoe High School.
The Wolves had eight champions among the 14 weight classes to pile up 246.5 points,which put them well in front of Cherokee Trail (190), while last season’s league champion — Eaglecrest — earned 98 to finish third.
Sophomore JR Ortega (113 pounds), senior Graeson Streit (132), sophomore Braxton Widrikis (144), junior Jonathan Montes Gonzales (150), junior Gunner Lopez (157), senior Charlie Herting, sophomore Oz Nowick (215) and sophomore Leland Day (285) all won their weights and coach Ryan Budd’s Wolves placed in the top six in every weight. Additionally, sophomore Kyle Menuez finished second at 113 pounds and freshmen Cade Hirstine (165) and Ryder Hoffschneider (190) were also runners-up at their weights.
Cherokee Trail had a trio of champions of its own in sophomore Cooper Mathews (120), senior Chance Mathews (138) and senior Mateo Garreffa (190) along with runners up at 106 (freshman Elijah Van Horn), 150 (junior Ryan Everhart) and 175 (senior Michael Collins).
Coach Jeff Buck’s Cougars had a total of 13 wrestlers place in the top four of their respective weights.
Alijah Gabaldon brought home the 126-pound Centennial League championship for coach Javier Quintana’s Eaglecrest team, which also had a runner-up at 215 pounds in junior Nakhai Miller. Senior Dashawn Jenkins won the 106 pound weight class for fifth-place Smoky Hill, while eighth-place Overland’s best result was the second place finish of Asadbek Mansurov at 132.
GIRLS WRESTLING
Eaglecrest repeats as Centennial League champ
The Eaglecrest girls wrestling team earned its second straight victory at the Centennial League Championships with help of a whopping 22 top-six placers among the 14 weight classes Jan. 25.
The Raptors racked up 148.5 points to more than double the output of runner-up Arapahoe (63.5), which edged Overland by half of a point for second.
Junior Sofie Ghasabyan (100 pounds), freshman Jayden Schwabauer (105), junior Sydney Babi (110), freshmanTatum Debelak (115), junior Lily Homant (120), Jordan Heibult (125), Bailee Mestas (130), Alaysia Ornelas (135) and Maxime Lentz (140) captured championships for coach Horacio Vialpando’s Raptors, who were particulary strong at 130 pounds with winners of the top three placers as junior Angelina Padilla follows Mestas and freshman Paula Esmeral Ulles took third.
Eleven Overland wrestlers placed in the top four of their respective weights, though none won championships. Ellena Berhe (100 pounds), Sarah Giday (105), Mihret Shimels (110), Isabella Taylor (120), Brooklyn Pippins (125) and Ruth Worknhe (235) eached finished as runners-up in their weights.
Smoky Hill achieved fourth place among five scoring teams with help from a runner-up at 155 (Hailey Torrez), plus third-place finishers in Maria Pascual Francisco (110) and Grace Song (140).
GIRLS SWIMMING
League championship meets set for weekend Championship season has arrived in girls swimming, as Aurora programs will disperse to three different meets Jan. 31-Feb. 1 with hopes for league hardware and to strengthen their state ranks.
The Centennial “A” League Championship meet is scheduled to be contested at Arapahoe High School with swim
prelims set for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 31, followed by the full diving competition beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 1, followed by swim finals at 3 p.m. That meet will include Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland and Smoky Hill.
The Regis Jesuit girls swim team heads to Heritage for swim prelims at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 31 with finals scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Diving will be contested at 8:30 a.m. at Grandview H.S.
Hinkley plays host to the City “A” League Championships — which also include Aurora Central, Gateway and Rangeview — with swim prelims at 5 p.m. Jan. 31. The diving competition is at 9 a.m. followed by swim finals at 2 p.m.
WEEK PAST
The week past in
Aurora prep sports
SATURDAY, JAN. 25: The Eaglecrest boys basketball team played at rival Smoky Hill without standout big
man Garrett Barger, but used a 24-8 fourth quarter to pull away for a 70-50 win. The Raptors had four players in double figures in scoring in Anthony Nettles (15 points), La’Quince York (14), Kris Coleman (13) and Lucas Kalimba (12) to counter an attack for the Buffaloes led by Carter Basquez’s 18, while Jai Jegede had 14. ...Vince Guthrie tipped in an inbounds pass from Jake Scott as time expired, which lifted the Cherokee Trail boys basketball team to a 58-56 win at Grandview in a Centennial League meeting of rivals. The Cougars got 20 points from Jordan Mitchell, 16 from Nathan Baack and 12 from Guthrie as they snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Wolves that dated back to the 201516 season. ...The Overland boys basketball team earned a 61-50 Centennial League home win over Cherry Creek with help from a 13-point effort from Dontae
For more on these stories, visit sentinelcolorado. com/preps
Graham. Mehki McNeal added 12 and Siraaj Ali 11 for the Trailblazers, who had two other contribute nine apiece. ...The Vista PEAK Prep boys basketball team earned a 63-46 non-league home victory over Fort Collins. ...The Grandview girls basketball team made the plays it needed in the clutch on its way to a 51-46 Centennial League home win over rival Cherokee Trail Sienna Betts scored a game-high 28 points to pace the Wolves, who also had Deija Roberson reach double figures with 12 points. Madeline Gibbs scored 17 points to lead the Cougars, who played without key starter Talia Strode, who suffered a serious injury in the previous game. Karson Chaney and Ryen Galloway added seven points apiece for Cherokee Trail. Kaydence Waymire scored 19 points, while Jada Bobb added 13 and Amaia Jones 12 in the Eaglecrest girls basket-
ball team’s 63-18 Centennial League road win at Smoky Hill. ...The Gateway girls basketball team used strong first and third quarter advantages to capture a 50-25 non-league win at Hinkley Uniece Reynolds paced the Thunder with six points. ...The Regis Jesuit boys wrestling team finished in fifth place at the Continental League Championship tournament in which the Raiders had seven top-six placers. Richard Avila finished as the 113-pound runner-up to lead the way for Regis Jesuit. ...The Rangeview and Aurora Central boys wrestling teams each had a runner-up at the 32-team Les Mattocks Invitational at Lincoln H.S., as Alec Romero finished 2nd at 144 pounds for the Raiders and Federico Amezquita Lara took the same podium spot at 165 pounds for the Trojans. ...Ian Bacon of the Vista PEAK Prep boys wrestling team won the 120-pound championship at the Mile
TOP: Eaglecrest defenders Anthony Nettles (1) and La’Quince York, center, rise to stop Smoky Hill’s Lorenzo Contreras as he drives and dishes to a teammate during the second half of the Raptors’ 70-50 Centennial League boys basketball win over the Buffaloes Jan. 25. ABOVE: Grandview juniorJonathan Montes Gonzales, facing, won the 150-pound bracket at the Centennial League Championship tournament and helped the Wolves to the team title Jan. 25 at Arapahoe
PREPS
High Classic hosted by Thomas Jefferson H.S. The Bison were 12th among 20 scoring teams. Hinkley finished 20th with help from a fifth-place finish at 215 pounds from Carter Davis. ... The Vista PEAK Prep and Regis Jesuit girls wrestling teams each had a champion and placed 11th and 13th, respectively, at the Warhorse Invitational hosted by Chatfield H.S. The Bison got a boost from 190-pound champion Parice Jones and 125-pound runner-up Amelia Bacon, while Remington Zimmerer took the 120-pound bracket for the Raiders. ...The Cherry Creek ice hockey team bounced back from a loss the previous night to knock off Valor Christian 7-5. Harry Frangiskakis Austin Katz and Matthew Lopez each scored goals and had two assists, while Jack Linville scored twice and Payton Mills (Overland) made 25 saves. ...Aidan McGinty had two goals and two assists, while Linkin Alisasis made 36 saves for the Grandview ice hockey team in a 5-5 overtime tie with Standley Lake at Big Bear Ice Arena. ...FRIDAY, JAN. 24: The Rangeview boys basketball team treated a packed house with an 83-65 City League home win over Denver East. LaDavian King scored 26 points to pace a balance effort for the Raiders, who got 16 from Marceles Duncan, 13 from Aidan Perez, 12 from Archie Weatherspoon V and 11 from Kenny Black-Knox ...The Regis Jesuit girls basketball team picked up a 71-27 home Continental League win over Ponderosa. ...The Smoky Hill boys wrestling team topped Hinkley 59-21 in a crosstown dual. Mathis Charity, Elvin Fiallos and David Lopez won by fall for Buffaloes, while the Thunder got pins from Marco Duran, Michael Parr and Carter Davis Nolan Williams finished with a hat trick, while Harry Sorensen and Alexander Warot also tallied for the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team in a 5-3 win over Cherry Creek at Family Sports Center. Easton Sparks made 25 saves in the net for the Raiders as well. Austin Katz, Jack Linville and Matthew Lopez had goals for the Bruins. ...THURSDAY, JAN. 23: The Gateway boys basketball team picked up a 62-46 win over Skyview in Colorado League play. ...Alex Flores’ 15-point effort wasn’t enough as the Aurora Central boys basketball team fell at Thornton 40-35 in a battle of squads that shared the early lead in the Colorado League. ...The Aurora Central girls basketball team picked up a 44-27 Colorado League home win over Thornton. ...The Lotus School For Excellence girls basketball team had its highest offensive output of the season and defeated Victory Prep Academy 46-28. ...The Eaglecrest boys wrestling team celebrated its seniors and defeated Vista PEAK Prep 61-14 in a crosstown dual. Dane Sims, Ramzi Noorzai, Britton Matejovsky, Tayte Tajha, Cain Gutierrez and Gavin Norum all posted wins by fall for the Raptors, while Ian Bacon (120) earned a pin, while Anthony Rodriguez and Cole Redmond also were victorious for the Bison. ...The host Rangeview boys wrestling team defeated George Washington in a City League dual match that saw Jesse Montrey, Makhi Ellison, Alec Romero, Marcus Washington, Ousmane Bufmack and Niccolas Hughes win by pin and Christian King by technical fall in a 59-16 victory. ...The Eaglecrest girls wrestling team defeated visiting Vista PEAK Prep 55-23 in a dual between local teams. Jayden Schwabauer, Carmella Trujillo, Natalie Replogle and Alyssa Apolinar earned wins by fall for the Raptors, who countered pins from the Bison’s Maylin Morales, Parice Jones and Khloe Yizar and Amelia Bacon’s win by technical fall. ...The Cherokee Trail girls swim team celebrated Senior Night during a 142-34 Centennial League home win over Mullen. Senior Ava Zadigian earned two individual wins for the Cougars, who also got victories from Aria Clouse, Allison Shaw, Felicity Meijer, Ella Drakulich, Emir Saliger and diver Peytyn Vincent along with a relay sweep. ...The Smoky Hill girls swim team picked up a Centennial League road win against Overland at Utah Park that included a sweep of 12 events. Mya Noffsinger and
Cameryn Walkup won two events apiece, while Ella Ambruso, Morgan Goodrich, Eve Niemann, Sophie Bower and diver Lyla Bailey were victorious. The Trailblazers saw Sabina Jeram finish third in a pair of events. ...Lin Naraoka won the 100 yard freestyle for the Eaglecrest girls swim team in a 141-45 Centennial League home loss to Arapahoe on Senior Night. Kendall Halfacre and diver Lily Grigorian picked up runner-up finishes for the Raptors as well.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22: The Rangeview boys basketball team needed two overtimes to finally overcome George Washington for a 68-59 City League road win. Marceles Duncan paced the Raiders with 21 points, while LaDavian King and Archie Weatherspoon V had 16 apiece and Royce Edwards 11. ...Anthony Nettles scored a game-high 28 points to help the Eaglecrest boys basketball team to an 81-64
home win over Grandview in the Centennial League opener for both teams. Lucas Kalimba added 21 points and Demari Manns Davis had 10 for the Raptors, while the Wolves were paced by Breven Anderson with 23, Trevor Thomas with 16 and Noah Sevy’s 10. Demetrius Lambert scored 14 points to pace the Overland boys basketball team to a 66-46 Centennial League road win at Mullen. Mehki McNeal added 13, while Siraaj Ali and Kymani Eason had 11 apiece. ...The Smoky Hill boys basketball team earned a 69-55 Centennial League road win at Cherry Creek behind Miller Boyd’s 20-point effort, plus 17 points from Lorenzo Contreras and 14 from Carter Basquez Aaliyah Broadus scored 18 points, while Talia Strode had 10 before leaving due to injury as the Cherokee Trail girls basketball team topped Arapahoe 74-50. ...The Grandview girls basketball team topped Ea-
glecrest 59-24 on the road as Sienna
Betts had 20 points and Deija Roberson 18 for the Wolves, while Jada Bobb had 11 for the Raptors. ...The Grandview boys wrestling team won nine matches — including pins from Jonathan Montes Gonzales, Charlie Herting, Oz Nowick and Leland Day — on its way to a 49-26 Centennial League win over rival Cherokee Trail Charlie Rider and Chance Mathews won by fall for the Cougars.
...The Vista PEAK Prep boys wrestling team earned a 41-39 win over Rangeview with help from pins from Anthony Rodriguez, Ian Bacon, Denzel Womely, Gavin Fifita and Abraham Garcia while the Raiders got wins by fall from Jesse Montrey, Josh Fennelly, Ousmane Bufmack and Daniel Jenkins TUESDAY, JAN. 21: Christ Tah had 20 points to lead the Aurora Central boys basketball team to a 60-55 overtime win over Adams City. ...Despite 20 points
from Eric Fiedler, plus 14 from Lucas Dickinson and 11 from Brandon Hawkins, the Regis Jesuit boys basketball team suffered its first loss to Colorado team witha 69-66 home loss to ThunderRidge. ...The Regis Jesuit girls basketball team earned a 43-31 Continental League win at ThunderRidge. ...The Regis Jesuit girls swim team topped Highlands Ranch 150-21 with wins in all 12 events. Elsa Osborne won twice for the Raiders, while Jamie Young, Natalie Daum, Taylor Hoffman, Kate Deboer, Marz Nystrom and Erica Mitsuoka along with diver Bailey Engle earned wins for the Raiders. ...The Eaglecrest girls swim team topped Littleton 10283 with wins in nine of 12 events. Lin Naraoka and Sadie Halladay had two wins apiece, while Kendall Halfacre, Alex Jones and diver Lily Gregorian were also victorious to go with victories in two relays.
TOP: Grandview sophomore Ava Chang, right, dribbles towards the lane as Cherokee Trail’s Madeline Gibbs defends during the second half of the Wolves’ 51-46 Centennial League girls basketball win Jan. 25 LEFT (TOP): Cherokee Trail’s Jordan Mitchell (1) blocks a shot by Arapahoe’s Tyson Watson during a Centennial League boys basketball contest Jan. 22 LEFT (BOTTOM): Grandview’s Gunner Lopez locks up Cherokee Trail’s Renzo Lubuguin on his way to a win by technical fall in the 157-pound match at a Centennial League boys wrestling dual Jan. 22. ABOVE:Rangeview’s Archie Weatherspoon V, right, gets Denver East’s Lincoln Lemieux in the air with a pump fake in the Raiders’ 83-65 win Jan. 24. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
and make it more successful, and that’s definitely what we’re moving towards.”
Community Advisory Council members were also invited to attend, and a few members said they were not pleased either.
Multiple advisory council members speaking to the Sentinel said the training was treated as a joke even by trainers and trainees.
Fields said that when she was on the advisory council, an initial bias training targeted issues facing a different city with little in common with Aurora. She said it made much of the training feel unrelatable and laughable, but she did not relay a particular detail that was inappropriate to Aurora. She said there was no training for people with mental health disorders or for people who speak different languages.
Schlanger said the first training was from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which assists with local criminal justice programs. It was later decided that Aurora would develop its bias training, along with some of the advisory council members from the previous group.
“It has been rolled out in phases with continual improvements,” Webster said in an email. “APD is currently implementing this training in both the academy for new officers as well as one of the required training for all existing officers. They are also working to reinforce anti-bias training throughout all modules and subjects.”
In the most recent bias training, advisory council members said they were given little notice of an invitation to attend. Mayes, still an
advisory council member, said he was not allowed into the training, which officials said was an oversight.
During a December meeting, Chamberlain said the department will continue the bias module in the spring and fall to ensure that it is consistent with the ideals intertwined within the consent decree and the areas the law enforcement agency needs to adhere to and be aware of.
Decree’s Monitor Seventh Report presentation
Despite controversy over the advisory council, Chamberlain and IntegrAssure officials in December said Aurora has made considerable progress in creating a police department all residents of Aurora can trust.
The seventh reporting period covered from Feb. 16 - Aug. 15. The focus items in the report covered different events in the reported timeframe, which included Kilyn Lewis’ fatal shooting by an Aurora Police Department officer, the quiet appointment of Chief Todd Chamberlain to the Aurora Police Department and bias training.
“It is clear, and both myself and the Community Advisory Council certainly recognize that there are deep wounds in the community, wounds that clearly aren’t healed and that each of us understands that we need to do all that we can to help in that healing process,” Schlanger said.
In all, IntegrAssure gave the city good marks on progress made in training, reporting and looking ahead at policy changes.
Two places where Schlanger did mark the police department somewhat negatively were in addressing racial bias in policing and documentation of stops.
In the seventh reporting period review, the monitor found two concerning incidents involving officers and a supervisor in District 1, where the rights of Hispanic individuals to gather may have been violated. Although supervisors didn’t initially catch the issue, command staff acted quickly once informed. They launched an Internal Affairs investigation, transferred one officer to another district, and provided training on the constitutional right to gather for all involved officers.
The second area the monitor identified was two key compliance issues within the Aurora Police Department. The first, involved an officer inaccurately marking all individuals stopped as “mixed race,” which was not consistent with body-worn camera footage. The officer said he was uncomfortable assessing race and received counseling and re-instruction.
The second issue highlighted a compliance rate below 50% in one district due to system miscalculations related to form tracking.
Chamberlain reported other areas of progress, including adopting a new transparency portal and implementing operational reviews to ensure accountability. He mentioned the department’s new transparency portal allowing the community to see “basically everything.”
“I believe the transparency does not stop,” He said. “I will give very specific details about what’s occurring within that agency.”
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Editorials Sentinel
Ambiguous, misleading talk about immigration will clearly result in bedlam
Confusion, misinformation and disinformation surrounding Aurora immigrants and three dilapidated apartments where many of them lived is creating a dangerous situation for everyone who lives here.
The surfeit of mixed, ambiguous or outright misleading messages coming from some local and state officials about whether Aurora, and the state, will or won’t cooperate with federal mass deportation policies and efforts has, by itself, created a great deal of mistrust and fear among the city’s large immigrant community.
For those who would like to see everyone in Colorado, and the nation, who is not a citizen or holding a valid “green card” expelled from the United States, the growing chaos, fear and confusion among immigrants won’t lead to that.
Two weeks ago, Aurora city lawmakers gave nearly unanimous support to a resolution supporting the city’s large community of “documented” immigrants and their families.
Those on the Aurora City Council who call themselves supporters of President Donald Trump said they back his threats of mass deportation, dubbed “Operation Aurora,” because Trump had said he would not target “legal” immigrants in a massive federal effort to deport “millions” of people.
The disingenuous claim by Trump has already been outed by news media, revealing the contradictory local claims of justice or fairness amid growing threats of roundups and expulsions.
First, it’s unclear whether Trump will by caveat try and change the rules of who is and isn’t a “legal” immigrant. Just before leaving office, President Joe Biden extended important immigrant and refugee programs that millions of immigrants depend on to live and work in the United States “legally.”
Thousands of El Salvadoran immigrants, in line for the green card process, have lived in Aurora for years under a Temporary Protective Status, allowing them residency and work permits. Similar programs have been created by Congress and past administrations for Venezuelans and other refugees. If Trump were to find a way to reverse and end those programs, tens of thousands of refugee immigrants in the metro area would immediately become “illegal,” and subject to deportation.
Some of these immigrants have lived here for many years and have built lives and families in the region, depending on a slow-moving system that promised to reward them for their hard work and playing by the rules.
Congress has already created a Trump-friendly bait-and-switch piece of legislation that, no matter how well-intended, runs against the very foundations of the nation’s system of justice: due process.
The Laken Riley Act, approved by the Senate last week, would require the detention of unauthorized immigrants “accused” of theft and violent crimes. The bill won bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, and Trump is expected to sign it.
The flaw in the bill is “accused.”
American history, and recent American history, too, is rife with stories of people wrongfully accused and even wrongfully convicted.
Many of those who support the Kane Riley measure do so because they believe it’s an easy way to rid the nation of “criminal” immigrants.
The very nature of the bill elevates the provably false narrative that many or even most immigrants are criminals.
They are not. Repeated studies reveal that immigrants commit far fewer crimes per capita than American citizens do.
Most important, however, is that a federal police force, having to swear allegiance to Trump to keep their jobs, cannot be trusted to faithfully apply the law where it’s obviously needed. Only the courts, even under normal circumstances, can decide whether anyone is guilty of a crime in the United States. By design, police cannot.
Not only does such a system fail under a corrupt federal government, it would entice anti-immigrant residents and others to make false claims against immigrants, invoking a mechanism for deportation.
This week, the Drug Enforcement Agency raided what they described as an “invitation-only” party in Adams County, packed with more than 40 members of the notorious TrenDeAragua prison gang. Hours after the raid and mass arrest, DEA officials said the majority of those detained were immigrants.
Some, many or even all of those involved in the party, allegedly rife with illegal drugs and weapons, may be actual members of TdA or may have committed crimes, at the party or elsewhere. But only a thorough investigation can provide enough reliable evidence to charge suspects. And only the courts in the United States can impose a conviction.
So far, neither the DEA nor ICE have released any details about these suspects, but it’s clear that some, or possibly all, could be subject to deportation under this new, imminent, law, and probably others.
All of this double-speak and confusion has made law-abiding immigrants fearful. Many report losing work hours or even jobs as false narratives make others in the region open to reacting to fictitious claims and memes.
Besides being grossly unfair and patently un-American to our lawful neighbors, confusing messages about whether local police and political leaders will fold in with federal officials only creates desperation. It will result in children missing school for fear of raids and deportation. It will result in immigrants becoming easy crime victims because they will not call police under any circumstances. It will result in disaster.
Local and state leaders and police must be confident and clear that they will protect lawful immigrants by adhering to state law and promises that local police agencies are here to protect everyone, regardless of citizenship status.
Time to bring an end to sanctuary states and cities
And so, the Trump administration begins. The newly inaugurated president has set an extraordinarily high bar for his second term, with executive orders to secure the border, increase fossil fuel production, end the federal government’s DEI programs, revive the economy, and much more.
Because Trump’s agenda is wide-reaching, expectations among his supporters are high and therefore failure to reach his announced goals would be a huge disappointment to them. Trump’s honeymoon period could be briefer than the typical 100 days allowed for incoming presidents.
But if Trump can succeed on ending illegal immigration and removing criminal aliens – voters’ top concern – then he will at least have reversed former President Joe Biden’s open borders era. Tom Homan, the border czar, has promised to begin his alien removal program in sanctuary cities, a headache to immigration enforcement since the early 1970s.
Berkeley, Calif. claims to have been the first sanctuary when it offered refuge to Vietnamese war victims. Despite Berkeley’s dubious claim – most Vietnamese nationals were legally present refugees – sanctuary cities ballooned to today’s 300 across 13 states. The largest sanctuary cities are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.
Sanctuary is the practice of shielding illegal aliens who have violated federal immigration law and blocking them from immigration officers’ reach. Originally limited to a handful of church groups that welcomed a family or two that illegally crossed the border, sanctuary cities have grown into something much larger and more dangerous. Self-proclaimed sanctuary communities have harbored convicted murderers, rapists and kidnappers, and have spent tens of millions of dollar on shelter and on providing social services.
Homan has repeatedly stated his priority is to remove criminals, especially those in sanctuary cities. Until the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal identified Chicago as the first Immigration and Customs Enforcement target, Homan had scheduled as many as 200 agents to descend on the Windy City to begin operations. The leaks, Homan said, put officers’ safety at risk and may cause him to re-evaluate the removal schedule
Chicago, a sanctuary city for 40 years, is perfect for Homan to begin his enforcement operation. In 1985, then-Mayor Harold Washington signed an executive order granting sanctuary to all people, regardless of their immigration status, and providing access to city services and benefits. Washington’s order was formalized into the “Welcoming City Ordinance” in 2006 which barred local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a similar order for the entire state in 2021. As a result, the arrival of 628,000 illegal aliens cost state taxpayers $2.9 billion annually. Since 2022, more than 20,000 migrants have settled in Chicago, many of whom slept at O’Hare International Airport, at local police stations, in public parks or on the streets. Overall costs to house the illegal alien influx tops $330 million. Instead of ending sanctuary policies which would
deter illegal aliens, both Illinois Gov. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson blame the federal government while demanding it provides aid and work permits for illegal aliens. Because of its tenuous budgetary conditions, exacerbated by financing illegal aliens, S&P downgraded Chicago’s credit rating to BBB, a step above the lowest investment-grade, BBB-, which is a notch above junk level.
But another option in addition to deporting criminals that would cripple sanctuary cities is available to the Trump administration. Sanctuary cities violate federal immigration law, which says no state or local government may prohibit or in any way restrict local officials from communicating with immigration authorities about a person’s immigration status.
Yet another option is for the federal government to stop sending millions of dollars to cities that violate immigration laws and, through their craven disregard, jeopardize public safety. Every year, the Department of Justice doles out hundreds of millions to sanctuary jurisdictions under three funding programs — the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants, and the Community Oriented Policing Services program.
These monetary awards represent about 40 percent of the available funding under these programs. Sanctuary jurisdictions receive funding despite actively hindering cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. Consequently, the funding programs subsidize cities that violate federal law and undermine community welfare.
California, by a wide margin, receives the greatest aggregate sum from the three programs. Defunding sanctuary cities would avoid the dramatic arrest process – handcuffs, police cars and ICE officers – that would create negative press coverage for the administration.
To end the criminality that sanctuary cities represent, the Trump administration should seal the border, covered in one of his election night executive orders, remove dangerous criminals from sanctuary jurisdictions, and stop sending the defiant municipalities money.
–Joe Guzzardi is an Institute for Sound Public Policy analyst who has written about immigrationformorethan30years.Contacthimatjguzzardi@pfirdc.org.
JOE GUZZARDI, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
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