Timeline of Events in the Elijah McClain Case
Aug. 24, 2019 – Aurora police stop Elijah McClain near Billings Street and East Colfax Avenue following a resident’s 911 call reporting a suspicious person (view body-cam footage and hear the 911 call)
Aug. 27, 2019 – Elijah McClain dies at University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora
Aug. 28, 2019 – Aurora Fire Rescue announces the completion of a preliminary review, in conjunction with the EMS Medical Director, of the treatment provided to Elijah McClain, finding that the actions of responders were consistent and aligned with established protocols set by medical doctors outside of the city
Oct. 21, 2019 – Factual findings of the investigation (including police reports, interviews with officers and witnesses, body worn camera videos, 911 audio and other relevant materials) are presented by Aurora police to 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
Nov. 7, 2019 – Adams/Broomfield Coroner’s Office releases autopsy report (starting on page 23 of the linked file) that rules the cause and manner of Elijah McClain’s death as “undetermined” with contributing factors of “intense physical exertion and a narrow left coronary artery”
Nov. 22, 2019 – 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office releases declination letter (starting on page 5 of the linked file), saying no state criminal charges will be filed against those involved in the case
Nov. 22, 2019 – As soon as the DA’s ruling is received, Aurora Police Department releases body-worn camera footage from the Aug. 24 incident and conducts a press conference
Dec. 2, 2019 – Aurora swears in a new mayor (Mike Coffman) and three new council members (Juan Marcano, Alison Coombs and Curtis Gardner)
Dec. 10, 2020 – Aurora chapter of NAACP, in coordination with members of the Aurora City Council, hosts a community meeting to hear community voices, experiences and concerns and help inform an intentional process engaging with and creating change within the social justice practices within the city of Aurora
Jan. 1, 2020 – Vanessa Wilson becomes Interim Chief of Police following the retirement of Nick Metz
Feb. 6, 2020 – Aurora Police Department announces findings of its Force Review Board, which began its work following the DA’s ruling and concluded that officers had a lawful reason to make the contact with Elijah McClain and that the force applied was within existing policy and consistent with training
Feb. 6, 2020 – City Manager Jim Twombly announces his intent to hire an external national expert to review all information pertinent to the response, interviews, and review of current departmental policies, procedures and training relevant to the case
Feb. 6, 2020 – City Manager Jim Twombly announces an official audit of Aurora Police Department body worn cameras to take a critical look at our policies, how well APD complies with policies, laws and best practices related to the use of body worn cameras, as well as the equipment itself (the audit is ongoing)
Feb. 10, 2020 – Led by Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Johnston, Aurora City Council unanimously approves a resolution to establish a Community Police Task Force to evaluate, discuss and develop recommendations to improve effective and transparent communication between the Aurora Police Department and the community, including a potential resident-involved/resident-based review process of critical police incidents, operations, practices and procedures
Feb. 11, 2020 – Interim Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson holds a community meeting to discuss the department’s training, use of force policies, body worn cameras, hiring and discipline, and crime-reduction efforts
Feb. 12, 2020 – City signs contract with attorney Eric Daigle to conduct the external review of the Elijah McClain case
March 10, 2020 – Aurora Fire Rescue and Falck Rocky Mountain hold a community meeting to discuss the EMS response model, medical protocols, department training initiatives and community outreach
June 9, 2020 – Aurora Police Department and city management announce changes to police directives, including a ban on the carotid control hold, a duty to intervene, officer relief during physical altercations, a change to suspicious-person calls that allows for officer determination of whether to conduct a stop, and clarification on requiring a warning before shots are fired
June 10, 2020 – Following concerns expressed by members of the Aurora City Council Public Safety, Courts and Civil Service Policy Committee (Council Members Allison Hiltz, Curtis Gardner and Angela Lawson) that the independent investigator hired by the city to review the Elijah McClain case could not be perceived as truly independent because of his background in law enforcement, City Manager Jim Twombly cancels the contract and commits to working with the mayor and City Council on a new independent, external investigation into the case
June 15, 2020 – At a special meeting called by Mayor Mike Coffman, the Aurora City Council approves 13 members of the Community Police Task Force, including representatives from the NAACP, community of faith, criminal justice reform organizations, educators and the Aurora Key Community Response Team; an additional member is selected at the June 22 council meeting
June 24, 2020 – The mayor and members of the Public Safety, Courts and Civil Service Policy Committee announce July 6 council discussion on scope of independent investigation
June 25, 2020 – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appoints state Attorney General Phil Weiser as a special prosecutor to investigate the death of Elijah McClain
June 30, 2020 – Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the Denver Division of the FBI announce they have been reviewing the Elijah McClain case for potential federal civil rights violations since 2019
July 3, 2020 – Interim Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson announces the termination of three officers in relation to inappropriate photos taken at the Elijah McClain memorial site, and the resignation of another officer involved in the photo incident
July 6, 2020 – Aurora City Council discusses at their study session the scope of the external, independent investigation in the Elijah McClain case
July 16, 2020 - Aurora City Council's Public Safety, Courts and Civil Service Policy Committee moves forward a draft resolution on the independent investigation to be considered by the full City Council at its July 20 meeting
July 20, 2020 - Aurora City Council approves resolution to move forward with an independent investigation and complete contract with lead consultant, Jonathan Smith, who is executive director of the Washington Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. Prior to his government services, Smith was the executive director of the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, the Public Justice Center in Baltimore and the D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project.
Aug. 11, 2020 - Family of Elijah McClain files a federal lawsuit against the city of Aurora and several employees
Aug. 11, 2020 - The city announces a comprehensive review of the Aurora Police Department by 21CP Solutions, a global firm of experts in the areas of civil rights and public safety
Sept. 14, 2020 - City Council voted unanimously on a proposal sponsored by Council Member Curtis Gardner to enact a moratorium on the use of ketamine by Aurora Fire Rescue and the ambulance transport provider Falck Rocky Mountain. Aurora Fire Rescue has removed ketamine from service units and paramedics will continue to contact medical control for guidance if they encounter a situation that is unique or challenging while treating a patient. The department follows the Denver Metro Prehospital Protocols that are written and evaluated by physicians with emergency medical expertise.
Feb. 22, 2021 - Independent investigative team provides the city with its report (a copy of the executive summary is available in Spanish)
Feb. 22, 2021 - Independent investigative team presents on its findings to the Aurora City Council. It was immediately made available to the public, and the investigative team presented its findings to the Aurora City Council.
Feb. 23, 2021 - Aurora City Manager Jim Twombly, Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson and Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Fernando Gray hold a press conference to discuss the report, and Twombly announces his intent for an independent monitor
March 2, 2021 - Aurora City Council holds a special study session to ask questions of the investigative team
Sept. 1, 2021 - Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announces 32-count indictment against two Aurora Police Department officers, one former Aurora Police Department officer, and two Aurora Fire Rescue firefighters; read statements from City Manager Jim Twombly, Police Chief Vanessa Wilson and Fire Chief Fernando Gray
Nov. 22, 2021 - the city of Aurora and the Colorado Attorney General jointly and voluntarily entered into a mutually beneficial legal agreement known as a consent decree, which the city considers its commitment to progress. The consent decree provides the Aurora Police Department (APD), Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) and Aurora Civil Service Commission (CSC) with the opportunity to allocate resources, review current policies and adopt new ones, and focus training efforts in five key areas.
Dec. 22, 2021 - City seeks public input before selecting Consent Decree Monitor. Between Dec. 22, 2021 and Jan. 4, 2022, people who live or work in Aurora were asked to submit questions related to the consent decree through the Engage Aurora portal or by calling Access Aurora at 303.739.7000.
Jan. 5, 2022 - The two firms selected as finalists for the Consent Decree Monitor position participated in a virtual public forum moderated by a community member.
Feb. 2022 - IntegrAssure was named the Aurora consent decree monitor in February 2022. IntegrAssure’s role is to provide technical assistance on new policies and training to ensure mandates are met on schedule. Progress is communicated to the community through regularly published reports, including four quarterly reports in year one and two semi-annual reports in year two. More information about the consent decree, including the monitor and progress, are available at AuroraMonitor.org and AuroraGov.org/ConsentDecree.
Oct. 12, 2023 - An Adams County jury in the first Elijah McClain trial found APD Officer Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide (a felony) and assault in the third degree (a misdemeanor). The jury acquitted former APD Officer Jason Rosenblatt of all charges.
Nov. 6, 2023 - An Adams County jury in the second Elijah McClain trial acquitted APD Officer Nathan Woodyard of all charges.
Dec. 22, 2023 - In the trial of Fire Medic Jeremy Cooper and Captain Peter Cichuniec (AFR), an Adams County jury convicted both of criminally negligent homicide. Cichuniec was convicted of assault in the second degree - unlawful administration of drugs - with a crime of violence enhancer. Cooper was acquitted of assault in the second degree.