AURORA, Colo. — The city of Aurora once again has a new police chief. Todd Chamberlain was sworn in during a quiet ceremony Monday afternoon. But some people in the community aren't satisfied with the process that led up to the swearing-in.
Many in the community have spent years telling the city and police they want transparency and a voice in what's happening around Aurora. Seeing Chamberlain, a former Los Angeles Police Department commander, put into power without any say from the community, they say, erodes the public trust even further.
After being sworn in, Chamberlain started work right away by speaking with protesters gathered near the ceremony. They want to see justice in Kilyn Lewis' death, and also answers as to why Aurora PD's new leader was picked in private.
MiDian Shofner, CEO of Epitome of Black Excellence & Partnership, took those questions straight to Chamberlain.
"Why would you accept a position knowing that there wasn't community involvement?" Shofner asked Chamberlain.
That question is one many in the Aurora community are asking of the city's sixth chief in five years. He's tasked with leading a department that's been plagued with issues and operating under a consent decree for how it polices the community.
"Why should we trust you? What do we go back to our communities and say?" Shofner asked.
"Get to know me," Chamberlain said.
"No, not get to know you, but why should we trust you?" Shofner again asked.
"You should trust me again because I'm here to serve you," Chamberlain said.
But trust is in short supply around Aurora right now.
The city and police have refuted claims that a Venezuelan gang has "taken over" apartment complexes. Conservatives have said the city and APD are lying. Tenants have said the city needs to do more with bad landlords.
RELATED: Aurora mayor changes messaging again on whether a Venezuelan gang is controlling apartment complexes
Those who've been pushing for details following Lewis' death say this is another example that shows Black and brown people of Aurora deserve better.
"And we are here today yet again in the city of Aurora because we continue to be failed by the city leadership in Aurora," Shofner said at a press conference, surrounded by community advocates, members of the Aurora community and members of Lewis' family.
More than 100 days after his son was shot by an Aurora police officer, Robert Lewis said they're still in the dark and something needs to change.
"You know, now they've got this new police chief from L.A. I don't understand it," Lewis said. "They don't need a new police chief. They need a new system, a new police force. This is mad. I mean, people need to really wake up and understand this can't go on anymore."
Protesters who were gathered outside the Aurora Municipal Building Monday evening said if Chamberlain wants to start off the right way, he should resign and let the community be part of the next search. But, if Chamberlain plans to stay, they want him to sit down and find a way to rebuild their trust.
Until that happens, they say they'll keep coming back to city leaders, pushing for answers.