Officers training the focus of court testimony in Elijah McClain's death

Training of the two Aurora officers currently on trial in connection with the 2019 death of Elijah McClain was the focus of hours of court testimony on Thursday.

Aurora Police Sergeant Kevin Smyth, who oversees the training unit at the department, developed many of the trainings and spent hours on the witness stand detailing them to jurors.

Suspended Aurora Police officer Randy Roedema, 41, and former officer Jason Rosenblatt, 34 are among five people indicted in 2021 in connection with McClain's death. Both are charged with reckless manslaughter and second-degree assault.

A third officer and two paramedics, who injected McClain with ketamine, were also indicted and will go to trial later this year.

McClain, 23, was contacted on Aug. 23, 2019, after a 911 caller reported a suspicious person wearing a coat and mask over his face.

Shortly after the first officer contacted McClain, he was taken to the ground and handcuffed. During that takedown, a carotid hold was used, which was allowed under the department's policy at the time.

That same night, McClain was injected with ketamine by paramedics. His heart stopped, and he died several days later.