Voters in Aurora on Tuesday were considering several ballot measures that would strip the Civil Service Commission of most of its responsibilities and give them to the city.
Aside from transferring hiring and promotions of fire and police officers, the initiatives would also extend probation periods for new hires from six months to a year. And it would cut commission terms from six years to three.
Supporters such as the police and fire chief have said they need to have more control over hiring and promoting to diversify the ranks.
About 86 percent of Aurora police officers are white, 4 percent are black and 7 percent are Latino. In the Fire Department, 85 percent are white, 3 percent are black and 5 percent are Latino.
The most recent census numbers show Aurora is 68.9 percent white, 13.4 percent black and 19.8 percent Latino.
“I’m optimistic that they will pass,” said City Councilman Ryan Frazier, who is in favor of the measures. “I’ve talked to a number of folks who seem favorable to it.”
Opponents, including the police and fire unions, say the measures would promote cronyism, adding that keeping the duties with the commission ensures unbiased hiring and promoting.
“We’re doing the same things we’ve been doing and we’ll see what the voters decide,” said Randy Rester, president of the Aurora Firefighters Protection Association, just a few hours before the polls closed.
