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Residents and advocates press Lakewood City Council on police culture and accountability
Summary
Multiple public commenters urged the Lakewood City Council to address alleged bias and cultural problems within the Lakewood Police Department, citing past officer conduct, lawsuits and calls for stronger leadership accountability.
Several residents and community advocates told the Lakewood City Council on Monday that they are concerned about the culture and leadership of the Lakewood Police Department and urged the city to take stronger steps to hold officers accountable.
Speakers described a pattern of offensive conduct and long-running community mistrust. Julius Brown, a veteran and the founding chairman of the Lakewood African American Police Advisory Committee, said he came “not out of anger, but out of deep concern and responsibility,” and warned that jokes and “signals” of bias among officers risk real harm to residents and public trust.
The comments came during the council’s public comment period and followed media coverage and a series of high-profile lawsuits and…
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