[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6353252,"mediaKeyId","2221512-b0de7b2b4425e0662df0bf9df4acddb4","parentId",2221512,"title","Residents press Decatur leaders for immediate action after third‑party police review","audioSeconds",6965,"startMs",2298000,"endMs",9263000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221512-b0de7b2b4425e0662df0bf9df4acddb4&start=2298&end=9263","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221512-b0de7b2b4425e0662df0bf9df4acddb4/thumbnail_2298000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6353252/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Residents-press-Decatur-leaders-for-immediate-action-after-thirdparty-police-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353252-c091e632133fdc6ae8bdab83ef891d2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580243&Signature=K57RFOXjTm-ICc2diZQrIgt3RO7~XePwlarcnblnEUNSRdI9nIltWEYkgR9s8X72CsKIaOZnOO78-3assS1EKnS2fOvW-FehIPkAho2d3B3CzwF~6hakIr5Ny13k6wXR7FBA8o3j0rO0rsZiNgpEhI-3oR9zJJqdgcugJmXlQchakfaQ9QaZITNkpJgzaSqzrTuxAxDskr0n4k8Vq10aq3MknO1y6WuAGKqRL-HDiqLxKzWqU5uBDDoQRNU01vpPLHt8SG7zMpsqDFLAsUTqFbxkOWosWcuosJNklugffXAVsDVIlz~3vHh7opLrrI5227Qn~DB-q1c53ry5LeXxUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Decatur City, AL","date","2025-02-04T14:29:09Z","article","Residents and community activists used the public‑comment period at a Decatur City Council meeting to demand immediate implementation of recommendations from a third‑party review of the Decatur Police Department and to call for accountability for officers and leaders named in the report.

The complaints centered on the Green Research & Technology (GRT) review that the city commissioned and later released in redacted form. Speakers said the redactions — which city legal staff recommended — obscured information the public needs to judge whether the department has changed. Many speakers urged the council to remove Chief Todd Pinion or place independent oversight over the chief.

Why it matters: speakers tied the review to recent violent incidents and to what they described as ongoing cultural problems in the department, saying failures in internal‑affairs processes and in use of an early‑warning system (IAPro) let misconduct continue. Council members said some procedural changes have begun but that personnel decisions require a formal process and a supermajority vote.

Multiple residents described the review as proof of “a pattern” of misconduct. Chris (identified in the record as a resident and activist) said, “We demand justice, not excuses,” and described the review as a call to “real accountability.” Several speakers referenced the 16 months since the death of Steve Perkins and said they had expected faster, more visible changes after the report’s delivery.

Councilmember Vlad Jackson characterized the report as “very, very concerning.” Jackson told the meeting he and others watched videos and evidence that, in his view, substantiated the reviewers’ findings. Councilmember McMasters said he has been working with staff on implementing changes the report recommended, including communications and advisory‑board adjustments, but acknowledged the limits of council authority over day‑to‑day department operations.

On specific points raised by speakers:
- Staffing and training: The police chief told the meeting the department is budgeted for 140 positions and currently has “less than 110.” Several residents and one speaker who said they had worked on training materials said the department previously required roughly 40 hours of annual training and that figure had been reduced to about 13 hours under current leadership; they urged restoration or expansion of training on use of force, de‑escalation and complaint handling.
- Internal‑affairs timing and records: Speakers and councilmembers discussed an internal‑affairs completion window that had been 365 days and was being changed to a shorter target to reduce delays in investigations and to prevent loss or deletion of video evidence. City officials said GRT recommended changes and that legal staff reviewed redactions; GRT physically produced the redacted report but did not itself choose which passages to black out.
- Complaint intake and IAPro (the early‑warning system): Commenters said complaint forms were not consistently logged into IAPro and that the system’s early‑warning alerts were therefore not being used effectively. City officials acknowledged problems in how complaints had been entered and said policy changes are being made so complainants receive notice of results in a shorter time frame (the report noted prior requirements of 365 days would be shortened).

Council response and next steps: Councilmembers repeated that personnel actions are governed by city procedures and that removing the police chief or taking other employment actions requires a formal personnel process and a supermajority vote. Several councilmembers said they have met repeatedly with residents, department leaders and staff since the report arrived; they urged continued public engagement and said they would press the chief for a clear, itemized list of implementation steps. Some councilmembers said they would seek regular public updates on what the department is changing.

Public safety context: Many speakers tied the policing concerns to recent violent incidents, video releases and ongoing protests. A number of commenters said they do not feel safe in certain neighborhoods and urged the council to address systemic problems rather than wait for incremental fixes.

Ending: Councilmembers and staff said the city will continue to work through the report’s recommendations and to clarify complaint intake and IAPro procedures; council members emphasized that formal action on personnel matters requires following the city’s established process.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agenda Work Session & Council Meeting 02:03:2025","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and community activists used the public‑comment period at a Decatur City Council meeting to demand immediate implementation of recommendations from a third‑party review of the Decatur Police Department and to call for accountability for officers and leaders named in the report.","taxTitle","Decatur City, Morgan County, Alabama","taxId",5148,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6353247,"Council approves CCI development deal and a slate of infrastructure, leasing and procurement actions",45,3243000,3288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2221512-b0de7b2b4425e0662df0bf9df4acddb4&start=3243&end=3288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2221512-b0de7b2b4425e0662df0bf9df4acddb4/thumbnail_3243000.jpg","/articles/6353247/Decatur-City/Morgan-County/Alabama/Council-approves-CCI-development-deal-and-a-slate-of-infrastructure-leasing-and-procurement-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6353247-272e55c2b7224e68354a50aca2a25450/orig.mp4?Expires=1773580243&Signature=L~yrbBYnpHU7nd66FwvVC7RfMaBAXphIpPTXxZEtk1NuTTLjqhM1KJQomdpAT3ytjsqHpUp4aKyJN7lXk1E1tXSn2c71q52GP3x6Zu-OjmqUorZjbQr4GJf712Z-NZuZlsCHYr7iHI0p8z5wCkKsjJNT57lq1JJHFtnwkUXkG~kSmWyn9stC-Dn1mfJXjOmbijb~B6e50qKGyewmWW--WnpgK4FvFxyyWDv-1XcoPLiquEjhNIzYYzteH5xPXAW5WVXEOi1zpiYLPuOIjTDyH4ZiPWcjHK6aVhHfTtTd7l1foXnmssPbSpKchuzD7qhPj0kAskF649Kw4bcGGT1Ttg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Decatur City Council approved a package of resolutions during its regular meeting, including a development agreement with CCI, an extension of a special‑use permit for a proposed wireless telecommunications facility, professional services for a landfill cell design, a lease renewal for a boxing facility, construction of parking at the athletic complex, acceptance of additional National Park Service grant funds for the Carnegie Library, declaration of surplus equipment and release of bonds for completed public improvements. The council also awarded a landfill construction contract to Pickett Industries.

The most notable approvals:

CCI development agreement (Resolution 25‑010): Lee Burchall, who represented the city in negotiations, and CCI representatives said the project would represent about a $50,000,000 capital investment, consolidate two Decatur facilities, add construction jobs and expand clinical services. Councilmember Pipes moved the approval and Councilmember McMasters seconded; the motion passed on a roll call in which councilmembers voted “aye.” The development agreement includes a city stipend of $250,000 to enable the project to proceed; site design, ALDOT requirements and a city site‑plan review remain to be completed.

Extension of special‑use permit for Tillman Infrastructure / AT&T tower (Resolution 25‑011): David Andrews of CMS told council the project at Runnymede in the BeltLine is awaiting state and local historic‑commission approvals and requested a second 180‑day extension; the council approved the extension on a roll call vote.

Professional services for landfill Cell 17 (Resolution 25‑012): Wanda Tyler, Landfill and Recycling, presented a proposal from P Wright McAnally for engineering and project‑management services for the new municipal solid‑waste cell (Cell 17). The contract amount is $337,800; council approved the proposal following a motion by Councilmember McMasters and second by Councilmember Pike.

Lease renewal for boxing facility (Resolution 25‑013): The council approved a renewal of the lease for the city’s boxing facility (DYS facilities/boxing arena); staff described a small rent increase but the same location was retained.

Athletic complex parking lot construction (Resolution 25‑014): Procurement staff recommended Rogers Group as the lowest responsible bidder for construction tied to an MOU with the schools; council approved awarding the project.

National Park Service funding for Carnegie Library historic structures report (Resolution 25‑015): The city accepted additional provisional grant funding from the National Park Service to support a historic‑structures report for the Carnegie Library; council approved acceptance of the funds.

Surplus equipment and bond releases (Resolutions 25‑016 and 25‑017): The council declared specified equipment surplus — including six vehicles, playground equipment and IS equipment — and authorized disposal. It also approved the release and refund of a bond to Decatur Urban Ventures LLC for completion of public improvements at the Union Square townhomes.

Award of bid for landfill cell construction (Resolution 25‑018): The council approved awarding bid number 24‑040 to Pickett Industries for landfill Cell 2‑11 construction work; staff said the project will be funded with 3M settlement funds and that six bidders responded to the opening on Dec. 12. The council approved the award on a roll call vote.

Votes and procedure notes: motions and seconds were recorded for each item; roll‑call votes were taken and the record shows prevailing “aye” votes for the listed resolutions. Several items were described as recommendations from staff with accompanying bid tabs or professional‑services proposals. The council said site plans, permits and ALDOT requirements remain outstanding where applicable and will be addressed during later review or permitting processes.

Ending: The council approved the items as presented; additional administrative steps (site‑plan review, permits, and contract finalization) will follow staff recommendations and standard permitting processes.","The Decatur City Council approved a development agreement with CCI and a package of construction, leasing and procurement measures, including engineering work for a landfill cell and an award to Pickett Industries for landfill construction.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press Decatur leaders for immediate action after third‑party police review

Council approves CCI development deal and a slate of infrastructure, leasing and procurement actions