Aurora Police May Recommend Canceling Pride Parade: Cops

AURORA, IL — With the Aurora Pride Parade just days away — and nearly two weeks after organizers announced they were banning uniformed officers from participating in the parade — police said the department is struggling to find personnel to staff the event. If officers aren't secured "shortly," the parade might not happen, police said.

"With an update from the organizers this morning, no additional officers had been secured," police said Tuesday, saying they need an additional 20 officers to work the parade. "Unless the additional officers are secured shortly, APD cannot recommend to the City that the event can proceed as planned."

In explaining the situation, officials said on top of their regular duties, police officers have the option to work privately run special events that require the support of law enforcement. But over time, officials said they "have seen substantial changes, with many officers wishing to spend more time with their family and friends and less time volunteering to work beyond their regularly scheduled shifts." As a result, police have "seen a significant increase" in the need to hire overtime shifts to cover everything from staff shortages to sick calls and vacation time.

"Since the parade’s permit was approved on May 3rd, APD has attempted to hire as many officers as possible to work the Pride Parade," police said. "As of Tuesday, we continue to fall short of the minimum number of sworn law enforcement officers needed to ensure the overall safety of the parade."

As part of the process to organize the parade, Aurora Pride had to work with APD to produce a public safety plan. According to police, organizers reached out to neighboring law enforcement agencies but couldn't "fill the additional sworn law enforcement slots needed for the overall safety of the parade."

Aurora police said they stepped in to mitigate the problem, but they too are struggling to secure officers.

The announcement comes after Aurora pride parade organizers said police officers could appear at the parade in "soft uniform," such as a polo shirt with a patch or logo from the police department. The decision was a compromise after organizers first banned uniformed officers from the annual event since some community members "feel uneasy" in the presence of official police vehicles due to past "negative experiences," Patch reported.

RELATED: Uniformed, Armed Cops Banned From Aurora Pride Parade, Organizers Say

Tensions between the Aurora Police Department and pride parade organizers culminated in Mayor Richard Irvin announcing May 31 he would not participate in the pride event. The city also won't be represented with a float at the parade, which started in 2018 as a way to bring the city together as one Aurora, Irvin said.

"It is baffling how what is supposed to be an event focused on and celebrating equity, diversity, and inclusion is now choosing to exclude others," Irvin said, Patch reported. "Specifically, the law enforcement officers who have supported the pride parade since its inception and who work so diligently to maintain safety and order at the event."

RELATED: Irvin Won't March In Aurora Pride Parade, City Won't Have A Float