Naperville Police were called to the 300 block of Washington Street at approximately 5:17 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, for a report of an armed robbery. Responding officers were informed that the juvenile victim was sitting with friends in Fredenhagen Park when an unknown male approached him, pointed what appeared to
By Emily Ochoa McDonald Over the last few weeks at the Aurora City Hall, a series of public sessions called the C.H.A.N.G.E. (Community Helping Auroras Necessary Growth and Empowerment), a reform initiative, were held to discuss the use of force and training policies the Aurora Police Department use. The public
We at the Aurora (Illinois) Police Department received a number of messages and telephone calls today from the community with concerns about a video of a traffic stop that has appeared on the news and social media. We immediately looked into the incident and determined it did not occur in
By John W. Whitehead “I don’t need invitations by the state, state mayors, or state governors, to do our job. We’re going to do that, whether they like us there or not.” —Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf’s defense of the Donald Trump Administration’s deployment of militarized federal police to
This year is but half over and we have witnessed some of the greatest policing challenges of our lifetime already. The COVID-19 pandemic struck early in the year and disrupted every American at work, at home, and at play. The lockdown resulted in unique challenges to our first responders, especially
Friday evening, a media report from NBC 5 in Chicago incorrectly identified Police Chief Kristen Ziman and the Aurora Illinois Police Department in a situation involving the Aurora Colorado Police Department. The story was about the firing of Aurora, Co. police officers after they mocked the death of an Aurora,
Aurora Police received the call for a missing 13-year-old around 10 p.m. Sunday. Officers responded to the area and started investigating. We began a large search utilizing our officers, our drone team and a bloodhound K-9, as well. At approximately 8:40 a.m., Monday, Aurora Police Department dispatch received a call
Police brutality is a fact of life. It has been around ever since police agencies were created to enforce the laws and to protect the citizens from criminal activity. In every nation-state, in every era, one will find numerous instances of how ill-trained police officers enforced the laws, sometimes inventing
After the police-involved killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brooks, bipartisan legislative efforts to work on much needed policing reforms, have hit a snag. Despite nationwide momentum, voting 55-45, US. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill that would address some policing practices, including the use of force and
By John W. Whitehead “Violence creates many more social problems than it solves…. If they succumb to the temptation of using violence in their struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and our chief legacy to the future will be an endless
In a recent column, I averred that the George Floyd death and protests-in-reaction represented a classic case of the powerful “us versus them” syndrome that is baked into the human brain. Racism is a subset of this syndrome. Floyd’s brother gave recent testimony to Congress that was in effect a
By Rebecca Anzel The structural change demanded by protestors around Illinois will come from nonviolent demonstrations coupled with policy reforms, governor JB Pritzker said Tuesday. Speaking at a blended-income housing development in Chicago called KLEO Art Residences, the governor said “community activism and peaceful organizing and faith” are the keys
Sunday evening a quiet confrontation outside of Aurora City Hall between Aurora Police and protesters later turned into a riot with damage to businesses.
By Steve Chirico, Naperville mayor “What happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis is unconscionable. What happened to Christian Cooper in New York’s Central Park is unconscionable. And what’s happened here in recent months in Naperville is unconscionable. “We cannot let these events be relegated to just another name, another page
By Richard C. Irvin, Aurora mayor I am a black man. I am a father. I am a son; a brother; an uncle. I am a human being who cares for the plight of my fellow man. And I’m hurt and outraged over the senseless and brutal killing of George
Nearly 200 participate in Oswego Saturday along Route 71 following a walk to call for justice after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minn. Monday, May 25.
The Aurora Police Department is investigating a shooting that left a man dead on the City’s far southeast side early Sunday morning. Just before 4 a.m., officers were dispatched to multiple reports of shots fired in the 2700 block of Village Green Drive. Officers responded to the area and began
The North Aurora Police Department made a Facebook post to help those unable to obtain necessary items. “Unable to get to the store for groceries, child or pet items, or medicine, we’d like to help connect you with someone to help. We don’t want anyone to go without, or be
The Aurora Police Department (APD) is in need of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for first responders. Those who have N95 masks, gloves, disinfecting wipes, or hand sanitizer, please fill out the form in reference below, and a member of the Aurora COVID-19 Task Force will be in contact to discuss
The Aurora Police Department recently announced the promotion of Commander Keith Cross as the Department’s newest Deputy Chief.
