AURORA, Colo. — Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said Thursday during the Public Safety, Courts, and Civil Service Policy Committee meeting of the City Council that he will not ask the National Guard for help policing the city.
The committee, chaired by council firebrand Danielle Jurinsky, had a discussion around whether additional resources are needed. Jurinsky asked why officers could not be moved from other areas of the city to District 1, where troubled apartment buildings threatened by reported Venezuelan gangs made national news.
President-elect Trump came to Aurora on the campaign trail and said the city was a “war zone” and was surrendering to Tren de Aragua. Jurinsky spoke during Trump’s visit at the Gaylord Rockies Resort, many miles from the troubled apartment buildings.
‘Operation Aurora is coming’
Trump vowed to have federal officials swoop into Aurora and deport migrants. He called it “Operation Aurora” and said he will use that name for the operation as it is carried out in cities across the U.S. Jurinsky said during the committee meeting, “Operation Aurora is coming, as you all know, and I hope we are preparing for that.” Jurinsky said “there is a disconnect” between the incoming Trump administration and the city. Jurinsky said she has been fielding calls from the Trump administration and does not know what to tell them. Schulte urged Jurinsky to give the Trump officials his number and he would coordinate the city’s side of the operation.