The Aurora Police Department’s former chief Vanessa Wilson has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging her firing was discriminatory and retaliatory for implementing anti-racism reforms. On Friday, her team submitted a 35-page complaint in the U.S.
District Court for Colorado, detailing accusations that former City Manager Jim Twombly fired Wilson “because of her association with and advocacy on behalf of individuals of color, and in retaliation for, and in anticipation of, Chief Wilson engaging in protected activities.” The complaint alleges a violation of her civil rights and wrongful termination in violation of state public policy. The lawsuit claims that Wilson’s firing was the result of pressure from conservative council members Danielle Jurinsky, Dustin Zvonek and Steve Sundberg, and police officers who didn’t like the changes she was making, including abiding by the Attorney General’s consent decree. The Aurora Police Department agreed to aOfficers who stopped Elijah McClain went “hands-on” too fast, Aurora police chief says Ryan Luby, a spokesperson for Aurora, said the city hasn’t yet reviewed the claims and can’t comment on the lawsuit. In a written statement in response to the lawsuit notice in November 2022, city officials denied the allegations that the city manager fired Wilson for her community involvement, but because she didn’t similarly prioritize internal operations and a positive culture within the police departmen