Aurora mayor picks new police chief

Greg Thomas, who has served as Aurora's deputy police chief since last fall, has been named acting chief, city officials said Thursday.

Thomas, 47, was named to his new post Tuesday by Mayor Tom Weisner. He replaces Chief William Powell, who retired April 14 after serving the department in various capacities for more than 30 years.

He will serve in an acting capacity until May 13 when the full city council will consider his appointment as chief.

"Greg is a results-oriented professional," Weisner said in a written statement. "He consistently strives to improve operations and encourages employees to develop innovative solutions to problems."

A lifelong Aurora resident, Thomas joined the department in 1978 as a cadet and became an officer in 1982. He was promoted to sergeant in 1993, to lieutenant in 2003, to commander in 2005 and to deputy chief in 2007.

As chief, Thomas will oversee a department with 416 full- and part-time sworn and civilian employees. As a member of the command staff, he's been an advocate for community policing strategies and has focused on ways to increase accountability in the department, officials said.

He has received numerous awards, including honors as Aurora Police Department Officer of the Year and Exchange Club of Aurora Police Officer of the Year.