Aurora – Police Chief Dan Oates has talked about promoting minorities, but when he got the chance to bump up three officers to commander, he picked three white men.
The three – Capt. Ricky Bennett, Lt. Rob McGregor and Capt. Richard Cimms – were honored at a promotions ceremony Tuesday.
Glenda Wells-Evans, head of Citizens Concerned About Minorities in Aurora, criticized the chief for talking about promoting more minorities but not doing so.
“His management team is now more powerful and whiter at the top than it’s ever been,” Wells-Evans said. “Where is the opportunity for minorities and women?”
Oates said Tuesday that the lack of qualified minority candidates at the sergeant and lieutenant levels was a factor in his decision.
He said he is still hamstrung because he lacks input into who becomes captains and lieutenants. That promotion process is run by the Civil Service Commission, and the commission and chief have clashed in recent months on that issue.
“We have to do more to get more diversity in more ranks in this organization so when the next opportunity comes for senior-executive-level appointments, there is more opportunity to promote diversity,” Oates said after the ceremony.
Don James, head of the Aurora Police Association union, which has about 470 members, isn’t buying Oates’ reasoning. James said there were several Latinos and a black woman and a white woman who were qualified.
“Since his arrival, Chief Oates has made diversity an issue in this organization, and now here he has the opportunity to do it and he promotes three white males,” James said.
Sgt. Bill Revelle, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, another union with about 180 members, said his group has no problem with the promotions. “I think the choices were appropriate,” he said.
Oates said his goals have been misunderstood. He said he has pushed for more diversity throughout the department to better reflect the community and he wants more of a say in who gets promoted.
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
