More than 80 recommendations came out of the after-action emergency review of the Aurora theater shooting released Wednesday, but city officials say they started making changes long before the report’s release.
Among the is that there were separate police and fire department command centers at the at the Century Aurora 16 theater. That led to miscommunications among both departments and dispatchers, according to the report by the TriData division of System Planning Corporation.
But city officials have changed that structure so that there is one central command.
Also, the fire department has embedded a firefighter-paramedic in police SWAT teams so that more than basic trauma can be administered in a crisis.
“There are all kinds of changes,” Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan said. “Some are minor, some are a bit bigger. They are all in the vein of trying to improve.”
Among the other changes the city already has made or is planning to make:
• Tactical medical kit and combat medical training. Since the shooting, medical kits have been developed for Aurora police officers and many other personnel have been trained in combat medical procedures.
• Simplifying operation of radio systems. Aurora is working to buy a radio system that will be easier to use.
• The Office of Emergency Management added more staff.
• Relief for first responders. Some officers complained, according to the report, of being too stressed physically and mentally after the theater shooting and having to deal with a vigil, a visit by President Barack Obama and other events that happened right after the shooting. Now the city is reviewing staffing options to better rotate staff during emergencies.
• Joint training. The Aurora Police Department, fire department and Public Safety Communications are all training together in exercises that were previously done just for the individual departments.
• The Office of Emergency Management established a toll-free number to help the public contact the city in emergencies.
Aurora began making changes two years ago and will continue to do so, city officials said.
“We learned a lot from 9/11, and we learned a lot from 7/20,” said Aurora City Councilman Bob LeGare, who is vice chairman of the city’s Public Safety Committee. “Our misfortune here will be to the benefit of cities across the nation and the world.”
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or twitter.com/cillescasdp
