AURORA - When Daniel Oates became Aurora's police chief 18 months ago, the department was under fire for not arresting serial rapist Brent J. Brents before he committed a string of sex crimes.

Many in the black community were outraged over a string of what they called racially motivated attacks by police.

And his department was three weeks into the most complicated missing girl-turned-homicide investigation it had ever seen.

Just three days into the job, Oates brashly challenged Aaron Thompson and Shely Lowe - "people of interest" in the disappearance of Aarone Thompson - to stop declaring their innocence to the media and grant his department an interview.

"I'm here tonight to state emphatically that this is a homicide investigation," Oates said outside police headquarters Dec. 2, 2005. "Nothing that has been brought forward . . . by Aaron Thompson or Shely Lowe changes our position."

Standing on the same grounds Thursday, the chief congratulated his officers for unraveling what happened to the 6-year-old girl.

"I am fiercely proud of this department today," Oates told reporters.

"I've been in this business 27 years; I've worked in three police departments. I have never seen such a complex and difficult case, with so many challenges, that was handled so superbly."

On an easel next to the chief sat the same photograph of Aarone that he said many of the officers had pinned to their cubicles for motivation during the investigation.

Oates said that over the past months, the officers had listened to Thompson's and Lowe's supporters disparage them, "and today is our response, with a 60-count indictment."

Oates thanked the grand jury for its patience and commitment.

He also tipped his hat to Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers, who empaneled the grand jury, rather than rush to charge Thompson, as Oates had urged originally.

"In retrospect, it was the right choice," he said.

Citing court orders, Oates declined to discuss the facts of the case.

He said that the investigation remains open, but that he does not expect more arrests.

"I just think it's a great triumph for my department, and I can't tell you how proud I am of the people standing behind me, and everyone in the department and the absolute commitment to this case," Oates said.

"Despite all the criticism in the last 18 months, we sat there quietly and we did our job, and we got it done."

bargec@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5059