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Resident alleges harassment and selective enforcement; officials direct grievance channels
Summary
At the May 21 meeting a resident, Jacob Surgeon, alleged repeated harassment by a nearby business owner and raised concerns about police conduct; city officials advised using the police grievance process and existing complaint channels.
Jacob Surgeon used the meeting’s public‑comment period to allege repeated harassment by a local property owner and criticized police response, saying officers appeared to know and greet the person he named.
Surgeon described several incidents he said involved the same individual and said other community members feared retaliation for reporting problems. "Again, he harassed us again," Surgeon said. He said some complainants had not received the help they expected and criticized perceived selective enforcement by officers.
A city official responded during the meeting by directing Surgeon to the police department’s grievance policy and advising him how to pursue that process. The official said complainants had been informed of the grievance policy and that written complaints could be filed for investigation.
Why it matters: Allegations of harassment and claims about police handling of complaints are matters of public concern. The council’s public comment period is a forum for raising such concerns, but the council and staff directed commenter(s) to the formal grievance procedures administered by the police department rather than taking an immediate council action during the meeting.
Details
- Commenter: Jacob Surgeon, who identified his address at 14 Franklin Street, described multiple incidents and said he perceived selective enforcement by officers. - Allegation: Surgeon identified an individual by name and alleged harassment and, in broad terms, more serious criminal activity; these are claims made in public comment and have not been adjudicated in this meeting. - City response: An official informed the commenter about the police grievance policy and suggested pursuing that formal complaint process.
Ending
No formal council action was taken at the meeting on these allegations. City officials instructed the speaker to file complaints through the police department grievance procedure for investigation.
