Former Aurora Police Chief Ricky Bennett, who was demoted from the department's top post more than two years ago, was promoted to commander of its busiest district, Chief Daniel Oates announced Friday.

Bennett, who is a captain, will replace outgoing District 1 Cmdr. Roy Minter Jr., who had been Aurora's highest-ranking black officer. Minter is leaving to become chief of police in Denton, Texas.

Bennett will oversee 173 employees. District 1 in north Aurora accounts for 43 percent of the city's service calls and 45 percent of its reported crime, according to the department.

In March 2005, Bennett took a demotion amid criticism by other city officials and the public about the department's handling of serial rapist Brent J. Brents.

Officers investigated Brents, a registered sex offender, in November 2004 but didn't arrest him even though he admitted that he fondled a boy. Investigators blamed a breakdown in communication between officers and the Arapahoe County district attorney for a two- month delay in obtaining an arrest warrant for Brents. Brents ultimately committed a series of rapes before being captured in February 2005.

Bennett has been with the department for 27 years. In 1998 he was promoted to captain and oversaw several law enforcement operations, including SWAT, the pattern crimes unit, the metro gang task force, school resource officers and the K-9 unit, the department said.

Oates also announced two other promotions to the rank of commander. Lt. Rob R. McGregor will be in charge of District 2, and Capt. Richard C. Cimms will oversee the department's District 3 operations.

McGregor is a 12-year veteran of the police department and previously served five years with the Dallas Police Department. As District 2 commander, he will oversee 117 employees. District 2 accounts for 33 percent of the city's service calls and 32 percent of its reported crime, according to the department.

Cimms, a 28-year veteran of the department, will oversee 106 employees in south Aurora. District 3 accounts for 24 percent of the department's calls for service and 23 percent of its reported crime, according to the department.

The promotions become effective today.