The city recently settled its fifth excessive force lawsuit against police in as many years.
The city recently settled its fifth excessive force lawsuit against police in as many years.
Nearly 20 Champaign and Urbana residents spoke at the Dec. 15 Champaign City Council meeting in favor of a citizen review board with subpeona power, in response to ongoing issues of police brutality with the Champaign Police Department.
Just over a week prior to the meeting, the city settled its fifth excessive force lawsuit against police in as many years, this one at a cost of $225,000. Officer Matt Rush has been involved in more than one of these incidents, and many community members described his presence on city streets as dangerous.
Council members made clear that they don't support the negative actions of problematic officers and thanked the officers who do a good job in their daily work. The council took no action on the petitioned request for a citizen review board.
The NAACP has filed a request with the city to equip officers with body cameras to document their activities.
In other business, the council approved the city's tax levy; appointed Charles Lansford to the library's board of trustees; and approved spending approximately $200,000 on computer server equipment, services and training from Burwood Group Inc.
Marci Dodds was absent.
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