Aurora’s new police chief and deputy police chief were sworn in at a meeting at Aurora City Hall on Tuesday.
New Police Chief Matt Thomas takes over the department from former Police Chief Keith Cross following his retirement. Previously, Thomas was the deputy chief under Cross.
Surrounded by his family and Aurora elected officials, Thomas said after he was sworn in at Tuesday’s City Council Committee of the Whole meeting that his commitment is to continue serving the Aurora community with professionalism, transparency and integrity.
“We’ll stay focused on making Aurora a city where people feel safe in their neighborhoods, where our partnerships with the community continue to grow and where every officer has the tools and support they need to serve with excellence,” he said.
As the next chief of police, Thomas will continue on the “path of success” the Aurora Police Department has already been on by strengthening relationships with the community and building on trust “we’ve worked so hard to earn,” he said.
He pledged to “listen intently” to community members’ concerns, to be fair and consistent in decision-making and to try to remove “obstacles and roadblocks” when possible.
The strength of the Aurora Police Department, Thomas said, is that its officers come from different backgrounds and have different ideologies, seeing life through “many different lenses,” but also sharing a passion for helping others and building community partnerships.
And to those officers, Thomas plans to put a “strong emphasis on your wellness, training and professional development to ensure you have the resources and the support that you need to be the best version of yourselves.”
Thomas has 28 years of policing experience and has held various jobs in his career, including patrol officer and investigator, Investigative sergeant, Patrol Services lieutenant and Administrative Services commander, among many others.
Steven Stemmet, Aurora’s new deputy police chief, said he believes Aurora has one of the finest police departments in the country and that he is looking forward to “doing everything I can to continue that tradition.”
As a third-generation Aurora resident, working as a police officer in his hometown brings with it a pride and responsibility, he said in his own speech after he was sworn in.
“I know the differences in Aurora’s crime picture, and I’ve seen it change personally for the better,” Stemmet said. “I’m fully committed to keeping this one of the safest and most rewarding communities for all of our citizens to live in and call home.”
Stemmet previously served in the U.S. Army from 1990–1997 and in the Montgomery Police Department from 1996–1999 before joining the Aurora Police Department in 1999.
Both Thomas and Stemmet were appointed by former Mayor Richard Irvin and confirmed by the Aurora City Council late last month. New Mayor John Laesch has publicly expressed his support of both Thomas and Stemmet.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
