Residents Call of Independent Review in Death of JR Thomas

-Photo by Terry Miller

By Gus Herrra

There was a lot of emotion at the Monday council meeting, public comment went for almost two hours with speaker after speaker essentially calling for police oversight and an Independent Review to be done. Speakers included: well-known local attorneys Gronomeier and Hickambottom, Jasmine Abdulla Richards, and the victim’s grandmother.

Police Chief Sanchez responded to comments, summing up what the press release on the death said. There were a few speakers who flat out attacked Sanchez and the department, calling them ‘thugs.’ There were also people asking why there were no body cams – city manager said they should be in use by the end of the year.

Unfortunately not much could be formally done. Since the item was not agenized, council could not deliberate on the matter. Protesters stormed out of the council chambers at the conclusion of public comment and broke out into chants, which really pissed off Tornek. That said, it sounded like this issue will return to council in the upcoming weeks as a formal agenda item.

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