Aurora Mayor To Release Next Steps For Police Reform Friday

AURORA, IL — Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin is set to speak Friday from City Hall to commemorate Juneteenth — a holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States — and to announce the next steps of his CHANGE police reform initiative.

Irvin launched the initiative June 9 after two weeks of nationwide protests following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis. The countless protests across the country included several large demonstrations in Aurora.

Irvin’s reform plans call for Aurora police officers to start wearing body cameras, reviews of the Aurora Police Department’s training and use-of-force policies, and the creation of a civilian review board to investigate police misconduct complaints.

"Juneteenth gives us another opportunity to pause and think about the history behind what we are going through right now and how we forge a path forward," Irvin said of his plans to talk about police reform on the holiday.

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Irvin is also expected to provide details about how the city will involve residents and community leaders in its crafting of recommendations to reform police department policies.

When announcing the initiative, Irvin said it was "a direct result of listening to our community" as thousands of people in Aurora protested for police reform and to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

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