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Public asks Bozeman commission for records, raises concerns about police use of force after beanbag shooting
Summary
Multiple speakers during public comment urged the commission to prioritize transparency and police training after a Bozeman Police Department encounter where officers fired nonlethal beanbag rounds; callers requested body-camera footage and records.
Several members of the public urged the Bozeman City Commission on Feb. 25 to seek transparency and stronger training in the wake of a recently reported use-of-force incident involving Bozeman police and beanbag rounds.
Sonny Carlson, a Bozeman resident who identified himself during public comment, said he nearly lost his life in a police encounter and said “requests have been made for records and body cam video.” He played or referred to media coverage of the incident and described the shooting location as Mendenhall near Wilson.
Amy Kaye, another speaker, said the publicly circulated news accounts underreported the severity of the incident and asserted that “beanbags are actually deadly force, making them inappropriate as a way to distract someone.” Kaye urged the commission to “prioritize the training of our police department so that the people of Bozeman can clearly make sure that the police and the police chief are qualified to do their jobs.”
Anthony Smith, who also spoke during public comment, described witnessing the event and said he has repeatedly asked the city for conversation about perceived injustice. He urged commissioners to act and said he was willing to face legal consequences if that step would lead to reform. Mr. Smith provided contact information to the commission and the public.
Commissioners did not take action during the meeting; public comment was taken under the non-agenda public-comment portion. Mayor Cunningham and staff reminded attendees that the commission cannot take action on matters not properly noticed on the agenda at the same meeting, but members of the public said they expected the remarks to inform future agenda items.
Why it matters: Public concern about police use-of-force, body-camera transparency and training can prompt departmental reviews, policy changes, or future agenda items at the commission level. Citizens' requests for public records also trigger procedural responses under public-records rules.
