Aurora Metropolis Supervisor Jim Twombly introduced his retirement Friday after 4 years within the place, overseeing the town amid a number of controversies inside its police division.
Twombly cited his need to spend extra time along with his household, notably his grandchildren. He stated of the 4 cities he’s managed, he loved his time in Aurora essentially the most. His final day might be April 7.
“Though there have been many sudden challenges throughout my tenure right here, I’ve tried to guide with a gentle hand whereas being attentive to each the Council and the group,” Twombly wrote in a letter to Metropolis Council members obtained by JHB. “I imagine I might be leaving the Metropolis of Aurora with a excessive performing, educated and competent workers.”
Twombly was employed in 2018 and stated in his letter that he has had 42 years of public service.
He led the town throughout a time frame marred by issues throughout the Aurora Police Division. Final yr, he fired Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson amid mounting strain by conservative members of the Metropolis Council and police union to take action. Twombly denied firing Wilson due to political causes, saying the explanation she was let go was as a result of she prioritized group involvement however not inner and police operations.
Wilson was employed to interchange former chief Nick Metz throughout Twombly’s tenure to guide the division and implement reforms — together with these required by a court-monitored consent decree — following the demise of Elijah McClain throughout a violent arrest by Aurora police. She publicly fired no less than a dozen law enforcement officials for wrongdoing. However she confronted criticism for rising crime within the metropolis and the variety of law enforcement officials leaving the company, and in the end was fired.
Former Miami Police Chief Artwork Acevedo was named the interim chief on an indefinite trial interval.
Metropolis Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky labored with Twombly over her previous yr on the council and she or he stated she needed to thank the town supervisor for his service. Jurinsky stated morale amongst metropolis workers appears to be excessive, which she credit to Twombly.
Though Twombly has handled criticism from council members, Jurinsky stated any points are tied to “such a divided council.”
“For anybody individual to should reply to 10 bosses and 10 completely different concepts and 10 personalities, and naturally, political variations, that’s laborious to navigate,” she stated.