Public criticism and council discussion center on police chief search after Steve Perkins case; HR outreach and candidate interviews debated

Public commenters at the Decatur City Council meeting urged immediate changes to policing, criticized the city's human resources handling of the police chief recruitment and demanded accountability in the wake of the death of Steve Perkins. Councilmembers discussed candidate outreach and set interview date holds while several residents said HR conducted private pre-interviews that raised transparency concerns.

Why it matters: Multiple public speakers described a pattern of mistreatment and racialized policing in Decatur, invoked names of people harmed, and called for structural changes rather than delays. They tied the police chief recruitment to broader accountability and community trust.

Public statements: Several residents used the public-comment period to raise sustained criticism. One resident said the city still tolerates “the tactics of the good old boy…