Aurora will have a new police chief and deputy chief come August 7. Mayor Richard C. Irvin on Wednesday announced that he had selected two veterans of the force for the posts.
Irvin's choice to head the department, Keith Cross, started with the APD in 1994 after a short time with the Milwaukee Police Department, and worked his way up through a variety of assignments and positions. He has been deputy chief the last 15 months.
Irvin also announced that Police Commander Matt Thomas will step up the ladder to take the deputy role vacated by Cross' appointment to the top job. Thomas is also a longtime member of the department who has served in a number of positions.
Chief Kristen Ziman announced in June that she would retire in August after 30 years with the APD, the last 5 1/2 as chief.
Cross will become the city's first Black chief. Ziman was the first woman to hold the job.