AURORA, Colo. — A vocal advocate for police has called for the resignation of Aurora’s interim police chief and four specific officers.
That advocate is on the Aurora city council.
Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky surprised council on Monday night with the resignation request at the end of the meeting.
“The incompetence of leadership in the Aurora Police Department has now caught my attention,” Jurinsky said. “Tonight, I respectfully ask for the resignation of officers…”
She then named four specific officers and Interim Police Chief Heather Morris.
“Until these five are no longer in this department, I’m not going to let this issue go,” Jurinsky said.
Jurinsky did not tell council, specifically, why she wants them gone. Though, on April 19, she posted on social media about being involved in a domestic incident.
“Over the weekend, I was involved in a domestic incident. While this is a very personal matter, I also understand that I'm a public official, and incidents like this can become news. The legal system is handling the case judiciously, and the process will ultimately work itself out,” she posted on social media.
On Tuesday, she met exclusively with 9NEWS to provide more context.
“I was the victim of a crime by somebody that I was seeing at the time,” Jurinsky said. “I had cuts on my face. I had black eyes. I had, you know, welts. I looked like I had been assaulted,” Jurinsky said.
Since her social media post, Jurinsky debated talking publicly about the night that ended with her date charged with kidnapping, assault, obstruction, and criminal mischief.
“I now understand why women don't come forward. I now understand why women protect their abusers. And I now understand why people are so afraid of the system,” Jurinsky said.
The arrest affidavit detailing the police response to the domestic violence case remains sealed. Though, she said she is considering a civil case against the officers for their response to her, as a victim.
“Those four [officers] are the ones I had direct involvement with. The ones that were directly calling the shots on how this was handled,” Jurinsky said. “Body cam footage has already been reviewed as to how I was treated, as to how the officers were talking to me.”
Jurinsky also called out city manager Jason Batchelor during Monday night’s meeting.
Aurora has a weak mayor form of government. That means the city manager, not the mayor, has the power to hire, fire and make administrative decisions.
“You are directly incompetent for overseeing the Aurora Police Department,” Jurinsky said to Batchelor during the council meeting.
In an emailed response, an Aurora city spokesman wrote, “The matter you reference might be related to a domestic situation and an investigation that remains active and ongoing. Similar to other ongoing cases like it, the relevant facts, context and court records remain sealed by the court. We are very limited in what we can provide at this time.
Interim Chief Heather R. Morris extends her deepest compassion and empathy to all crime victims. It is the role of a police officer to pursue the justice and safety they deserve, and she appreciates officers’ work in this matter.”
Jurinsky is not shy about standing up to police she normally defends.
She previously called for former Police Chief Vanessa Wilson to be fired.
Last year, Jurinsky won a $3 million dollar judgement after she sued Wilson's then-girlfriend, Robin Niceta, for making false child abuse claims about Jurinsky, claims Jurinsky said were the result of her being critical of Wilson.
“What I have learned in my time on council is that nobody seems to take notice until you become vocal,” Jurinsky said.
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