Daniel J. Oates, who led the Aurora Police Department from 2005 to 2014 and who has become a trusted voice on police reform efforts across the country in recent years, will serve as Interim Chief of Police and will help in selecting a permanent chief by the end of this year.
“I selected Dan for this important role because he has established trust with our community and many of our officers, and I believe he will effectively manage the department and further the enduring transformation in public safety our community expects under our ‘New Way’ plan,” said Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly. “Dan brings focus to crime reduction, community engagement and internal leadership that will serve our community well during this transition. He will also provide critical guidance as we begin to seek community input in selecting a permanent chief.”
“I am honored and flattered to be asked to serve again. I love Aurora. It has given so much to me and my family over the years,” said Oates. “I want to help the men and women of the APD get through this critical period of reform. I also look forward to reconnecting with the wonderful Aurora community. We’ll all need to work together to ensure a smooth transition to the new chief.”
Oates led Aurora through the aftermath of the theater shooting in July 2012. Following his departure from Aurora in 2014, he served as the police chief for the city of Miami Beach, Florida until his retirement from law enforcement in 2019. Since then, he has served as a law enforcement and security consultant, providing advice for various clients, including the Baltimore Police Department and the St. Louis City and County police departments on crime reduction strategies and organizational reform efforts. In 2020, he wrote an opinion piece about police reform that was published in The Washington Post.
Before Oates joined Aurora in 2005, he worked at the Ann Arbor Police Department in Ann Arbor, Mich. and the New York City Police Department. He holds a law degree from New York Law School, a master’s degree in management from New York University, and a bachelor’s degree in English from Bucknell University.
Oates is scheduled to have a minor medical procedure at the end of April and will arrive in Aurora by May 23 after a brief recovery period. He will begin having conversations with key community leaders and key APD staff members remotely in the meantime.