Aurora Missouri Police Department

08/18/2026

Question: “If people are innocent until proven guilty, why do you hold them in jail until they are found guilty?”

Answer: Great question.

In Missouri, when law enforcement arrests someone without a warrant, we cannot simply decide to hold that person indefinitely. State law gives us a maximum of 24 hours from the time of arrest. Within that time, the case has to move through the legal process and the person must be charged and held pursuant to a warrant. If that doesn’t happen within the required time, the law requires that person to be released.

Once a judge issues a warrant, the situation changes. At that point, the person’s continued incarceration and conditions of release are matters for the court, not the police department.

A judge may release someone on their own recognizance, impose conditions of release, set a bond, or order the person detained without bond. Judges consider the circumstances of the individual case and the factors established by Missouri law and court rules when making those decisions.

The Constitution is part of that equation as well. The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail, and Missouri’s Constitution and court rules provide additional protections and requirements concerning pretrial release.

The important thing to understand is the police do not decide how long someone remains incarcerated after the case reaches the court.

We investigate the crime. We establish probable cause. We make the arrest when legally authorized. We submit the case to the prosecutor. From there, prosecutors make charging decisions and judges make decisions regarding warrants, bond, conditions of release, and continued incarceration.

Sometimes we arrest someone and they’re back out very quickly. Other times someone remains in jail until their case is resolved. Those differences can certainly be frustrating or confusing to the public (and us sometimes), but they aren’t decisions being made by the arresting officer or the police department.

Our job is to enforce the law and put the case into the criminal justice system. Once the court has jurisdiction over that defendant, decisions about pretrial release or continued incarceration belong to the court. We have no decision power at that point, and we shouldn’t. This is part of the checks and balances system we operate in. Police should never have ultimate authority on things like this. And thankfully, we don’t.

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08/16/2026

Question: “I went down a rabbit hole watching body cam footage yesterday. I noticed people asking for a supervisor when things started not going their way. Are you required to call a supervisor if someone asks for one?

Answer: Great question! The short answer is NO.

The long answer is it depends on where you are. This answer is specifically for Aurora. Other departments may have different policies or procedures.

The decision to have a supervisor respond to a scene is really the decision of the officer on scene and the supervisor themselves. If a request for a supervisor is an attempt to change or unreasonably prolong the outcome of an enforcement action, it’s unlikely a supervisor will respond. If there is a complex situation that a supervisor has experience dealing with or can help with, they may respond. An “I demand a supervisor” does not activate any mechanism that starts a supervisor response. Law nor policy requires that.

When I suit up and work the road with my fellow officers, I don’t wear anything that prominently says “Chief.” On several occasions, I have been demanded to call my supervisor. I suppose the City Manager wouldn’t want to respond to a traffic stop at 2:00am to speak with a belligerent drunk driver. So we have reasonable discretion for those situations.

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08/14/2026

So thankful for our officers on APD as well as Billings PD and Marionville PD for coming to train with us. We also thank our partners with Aurora City Fire for teaming up and practicing every move with us.

We pray to God we never have to face down evil in this way. But if we ever do, evil will be eliminated in seconds.

Thank you so much to our role players for making this as realistic as possible for us. We need to be exposed to the stress, noise, and pressure we will encounter in a real situation. You guys were phenomenal this week!

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-Local law enforcement officers from Aurora, Billings and Marionville spent a day training for active shooter scenarios inside schools, practicing tactical movements and rapid response techniques before an emergency occurs.

08/12/2026

Congrats Lt. Berry! We have enjoyed working alongside you on some of the most challenging cases in Lawrence County. Thank you for your service to the City of Aurora and Lawrence County!

After 37 dedicated years, exemplified professionalism, integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and its residents, Lt. Berry has decided to start his next chapter.
On behalf of the Sheriff’s Office we want to wish him and his family nothing but the best in this well-earned next chapter.

As we say goodbye to one we need to say hello to the next. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office has an opening in the Detective Division. Apply online or in person.

08/11/2026

APD Intruder Training 2026

08/11/2026

Clarification:

Apparently some AI apps claimed we worked a death last night at one of our parks. WE DID NOT. The AI bot must have its wires crossed.

08/11/2026

Folks, a family in Marionville lost everything in a fire earlier today. We trust the Bank of Billings COMPLETELY and encourage anyone who can to help. This family needs our community. If you can, would you help?

Super proud of our area firefighters today. Agencies from all over went to help on this horrific fire. These ladies and gentlemen were mostly volunteers not getting paid. Heroes.

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08/11/2026

Community,

This is a reminder that you may see heavy police presence around the Aurora Jr. High tomorrow and Thursday.

Prior to the start of school, our staff will be practicing, training, and preparing for an intruder situation. We wish we didn’t need to do this, but you know we must.

Our staff will be practicing entry, target location and elimination, search, rescue, medical aid, and scene management. We will be using live simunition rounds which will allow us to simulate actual real-life tactics with painful results if errors are made.

God forbid the day ever comes when evil walks through the doors of one of our schools. If it does, understand this: we are coming. We pledge to run toward what everyone else is running from. We will be relentless in protecting our children and school staff, and if violence is required to stop someone from hurting them, we will meet and exceed their violence without hesitation. We stand ready to give our lives before allowing someone to take theirs. That’s our promise.

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08/10/2026

Community,

If you live on the west side of town around Pate, Minor, Lakeview, Sunshine, Terrace, and that whole area, please check your cameras from overnight last night. We had a couple of applicants for future housing in the Missouri Department of Corrections out looking for unlocked cars. When they found one, they stole what they could.

If you have any information about these thefts, or see them on your camera footage, please call us at 417-678-5025.

Also, please lock your cars at night. The economy is difficult right now which means thieves are looking for free money.

08/10/2026

We are excited to share the 2nd Edition of Missouri’s Cold Case Playing Cards. This was created through a partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Corrections, and Law Enforcement Agencies across the state. The cards highlight 52 unsolved homicides, missing persons, and unidentified human remains cases that have occurred throughout the state.

Please share, share, share.