AURORA -- Colleagues of Rodney Morales remembered the 40-year-old Thursday as a man who was committed to making his community a better place.

"He wanted to make a difference and he did," said Deborah Wallace, an Aurora city council member. "He came from New York and it really was a job he enjoyed."

As a code enforcement officer, Morales followed up on various complaints, from cars parked on lawns to weeds growing out of control.

It was unclear Thursday what type of call Morales was on when he was shot to death at an apartment building in the 1900 block of Clinton Street in North Aurora.

The gunman remained at-large Friday morning.

Morales' supervisor told reporters he'd been a city employee for the past 2 1/2 years.

"Our officers are well-trained," said Nancy Sheffield, director of Neighborhood Services, when asked about the dangers of the job. "They follow policies and procedures to help ensure their safety. However, they meet some (people) such as the tragic event today."

A friend of Morales told 7NEWS he was good at diffusing potentially dangerous situations that occasionally included interactions with drug dealers and irate property owners.

"He was just a kind, genuine, really cool guy," the friend said, who asked not to be identified.

Aurora police said Morales was unarmed.

"It's going to put a light on the things we encounter," said Juan Flores, vice president of the Colorado Association of Code Enforcement Officials.

Flores said the majority of code enforcement officers in Colorado are not armed.

"It varies throughout the state," Flores said, adding officers in some cities like Boulder are fully armed.

Flores said recent discussions have included standardizing how code enforcement officers are equipped. More than 100 officers make up the association. Flores said certification courses offered to members include basic officer training and safety.

While additional safety courses could come in the wake of the shooting, the president of the association, Rich Kopp, said the focus Thursday was supporting fellow officers and offering condolences to Morales' family.

7NEWS learned Morales was recently divorced and had no children. Family members were traveling to Colorado from out of state Thursday.

Wallace said employees within the code enforcement community are considered extended family.

"Code enforcement is important within the city and Rodney was good at his job," Wallace said.

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November 13, 2008: Code Enforcement Officer Killed During Routine Inspection