Aurora bids farewell to history-making police chief after 31 years of service
Moving tributes from his son, fellow officers, and community members
Surrounded by a standing-room-only crowd of family, friends, community leaders, and fellow law enforcement officers, Aurora celebrated the retirement of Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross during a heartfelt ceremony on May 29 at the Aurora police headquarters.
Sworn in as an officer in 1994, Chief Cross has served the city with honor and distinction for 31 years. When he was appointed chief in 2021, he became the second Black chief in the department’s history.
“Thank you, Aurora, for trusting me. Thank you, APD, for shaping me. Thank you all for being a part of this wonderful journey,” said an emotional Cross. “Here’s to the next chapter whatever it may bring.”
The retirement ceremony featured tributes from several special guests, including the newly appointed police chief and Cross’ former deputy chief, Matt Thomas.
“He’s led with humility, integrity and a servant’s heart,” said newly appointed Police Chief Matt Thomas.
Also speaking were former Aurora Police Chief Bill Powell, Aurora’s first Black chief who mentored Cross and Chief Cross’s son, Devan Cross.
A graduate of Aurora Christian High School and Cornell University, Devan offered an emotional tribute to his father.
“As his son, I’ve seen him work countless hours and multiple shifts, yet he always made time to prioritize being a father and a husband,” he said. “You showed me that through hard work, any dream is possible.”
Throughout the ceremony, Chief Cross was recognized with several notable awards for his decades of service, including:
• The 2025 Community and Culture Award from the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, honoring his long-standing service and representation in the community. Chief Cross previously received the board’s 2016 Leader of the Year Award.
• The 2025 Phenomenal Man of the Year Award from Boys II Men, a local mentoring program founded in 2002 after a summer of violence in Aurora. Cross has supported and mentored many young men through the program, including his own son.
• Award of Distinguished Service from the Northern Illinois Chapter of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), where he formerly served as president.
Cross chose May 29 as his retirement date in tribute to his late father who would have turned 84 years old that day. The senior Cross passed away on Sept. 11, 2024 with his son by his side.