The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners has a new member. Heather Aubry took her seat at Tuesday’s meeting after the commissioner before her, Teresa Sánchez-Gordon, stepped down citing threats against herself and her family.
The City Council unanimously approved Aubry’s appointment on Aug. 5, with two council members absent. Before taking the seat, Aubry told the City Council she had spent weeks meeting with police officers to discuss their work. She said that she hopes to work with the commission, which helps set department policy, on improving practices around police use of force, pretextual stops and recruitment.
“I want to serve because I see it as a way to continue my dedication to public service in an area I care deeply about: good policing and public trust in the police department,” Aubry told the council.
She will serve through 2029 and brings more than three decades of experience in Los Angeles city government. In her new role she’ll be one of five civilian appointees that oversees operations of the Los Angeles Police Department in conjunction with the Chief of Police. Commissioners are tasked with setting LAPD policy, reviewing donations to the department, adjudicating use of force investigations and collaborating with the Inspector General to provide oversight. The commission sets policy, while the LAPD chief oversees the department’s day-to-day operations, including officer discipline.
Aubry worked at the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for more than 30 years, where she became the office’s first equity officer in 2020. She also served in its Police General Counsel section, advising LAPD on legal and public safety matters and representing the city in cases involving police records and public disclosure.
Aubry is stepping onto the commission as questions remain about what led Sánchez-Gordon to leave her post. She resigned in May, weeks after stepping down as commission president.
Sánchez-Gordon told The LA Local she needed to “focus on my girls and their security and my security.” She declined to provide any more details about the threats or safety concerns. Sánchez-Gordon had served on the commission since 2024 and was appointed president in late 2025.
Shortly after her resignation, Mayor Bass said she had been in contact with Sánchez-Gordon and had asked the LAPD to further investigate.
Neither the mayor’s office nor the LAPD responded to questions about the status of that investigation, whether Sánchez-Gordon’s concerns had been addressed or what steps had been taken to support the commission’s current members.
Bass’ appointment of Aubry came as the city neared the 45-day deadline to fill the vacant seat.
She most recently served as general counsel for the LA Civil Rights Department, advising city departments, boards and commissions. She also helped launch the discrimination enforcement unit, which investigates cases of discrimination across commerce, education, employment and housing in the private sector.
A resident of Council District 13, Aubry joins Commissioner Rasha Shields as the second woman and attorney currently serving on the Police Commission. Shields is a former federal prosecutor, while Aubry is a career municipal attorney.
Aubry is the daughter of the late Larry Aubry, a veteran columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel and civil rights advocate who served on the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and held a leadership role with the NAACP. Several council members spoke about their respect for Larry Aubry, adding that Heather Aubry’s family history and years working in city government provided her with a strong foundation to contribute to the Police Commission’s work.
Residents can see the commission in action and provide public comment on agenda items at its regular Tuesday meetings at 9:30 a.m. Meetings are held in person at the John W. Mack Police Commission Hearing Room at LAPD headquarters downtown, or online via Zoom. The livestream link is available on the scheduled agendas.
This story was updated to include more details about how the commission operates and how members of the public can provide comment at its meetings.
