Manager of Public Safety Accountability

City of Aurora•Aurora, CO

13d•$112,800 - $176,250•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Accountability Manager leads the City’s Public Safety Accountability Division and provides independent civilian oversight designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, public confidence, and continuous improvement across public safety services. This position monitors and reviews public safety functions, programs, operations, policies, accountability processes, investigations, critical incidents, and systemic trends, including matters involving police, fire, emergency communications, detention, sworn and non-sworn personnel, and other public safety agencies or activities. The Manager serves as a trusted, objective, and impartial accountability leader who works with City Management, Public Safety Policy Committee, public safety departments, community members, oversight partners, and other stakeholders to ensure accountability processes are thorough, fair, transparent, and responsive to community needs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Law, Sociology, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field.
Six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in civilian oversight, public safety accountability, administrative investigations, auditing, compliance, legal or policy analysis, civil rights, public administration, law enforcement oversight, or a closely related field, including three (3) years of supervisory, management, or program leadership experience.
Valid Colorado Driver License with acceptable driving record at time of hire.

Nice To Haves

Certification or training in civilian oversight, administrative investigations, mediation, auditing, compliance, or related professional discipline is preferred and may be required within a timeframe established by the City.
Master’s Degree or Juris Doctorate in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Public Policy, Law, Organizational Leadership, Sociology, or a related field.
Experience working in or with a civilian oversight office, inspector general function, police accountability office, independent monitor, auditor, ombuds, compliance office, or similar accountability function.
Experience with consent decrees, constitutional policing, civil rights compliance, public safety reform, or federal/state monitoring.
Experience preparing public reports, annual reports, policy recommendations, audit findings, or executive-level accountability briefings.
Training or certification through a recognized civilian oversight, investigations, mediation, auditing, compliance, or public sector accountability organization.
Experience working with diverse communities and facilitating conversations involving sensitive public safety, equity, trust, or accountability issues.
Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.

Responsibilities

Leads the Public Safety Accountability Division, including development of division goals, work plans, procedures, performance measures, reports, and operational priorities.
Provides independent civilian oversight of designated public safety accountability matters, including complaints, administrative investigations, use of force matters, officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and other critical incidents involving sworn public safety personnel.
Reviews and monitors complaint classification decisions, investigation processes, investigative findings, and discipline-related recommendations to evaluate thoroughness, fairness, objectivity, consistency, and compliance with applicable laws, policies, procedures, and accountability standards.
Conducts or coordinates complaint intake, community referrals, and explanations of the accountability and investigative process to complainants, community members, and other stakeholders.
Identifies case-specific and systemic issues through review of complaints, investigations, critical incidents, policy application, discipline outcomes, public safety data, and operational trends.
Develops recommendations for improvements to policies, procedures, training, supervision, accountability systems, complaint processes, and public safety practices.
Prepares written analyses, executive briefings, public reports, annual reports, statistical summaries, and trend analyses regarding accountability activities, while protecting confidential, privileged, and legally protected information.
Responds to critical incidents involving death or serious bodily injury; by obtaining relevant and critical incident information, monitors associated city investigation and reviews and issues findings in coordination with the release of related city reports.
Develops and implements an annual accountability work plan based on risk assessment, complaint trends, public safety priorities, community concerns, and post–Consent Decree sustainability needs.
Partners with public safety departments, legal counsel, City leadership, community stakeholders, and external oversight partners to support fair, consistent, and transparent accountability practices.
Serves as a liaison between the city, community members, public safety departments, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders to build trust, promote transparency, and support constructive dialogue.
Coordinates community outreach, education, and engagement related to public safety accountability processes, complaint systems, public reporting, and community trust.
Reviews national best practices, legislative developments, accountability models, and emerging trends in civilian oversight, constitutional policing, procedural justice, and public safety accountability.
Supervises assigned staff, including hiring, training, coaching, performance management, workload assignment, and professional development.
Develops and administers assigned division budget, contracts, projects, records, and administrative functions.
Reports known or suspected abuse, illegal acts, or related irregularities that may affect the city to the appropriate city authority
Performs additional duties as assigned.