Residents press council for action after Green report and police conduct concerns; calls for hearings and leadership changes

Several residents used the Feb. 26 public-comment period to press the Decatur City Council for action related to police conduct, a recently completed third-party review (referred to in public remarks as the Green report), and department staffing.

Speakers including Sarah French, Kristine Love, Byron Nettles, Tommy Cook and others described a pattern of alleged misconduct that they said the report confirmed, and they asked the council to hold a hearing, increase oversight or remove Police Chief Todd Pinion. "We have the report, we see and know the issues, we need a hearing," said a public commenter who asked the council what immediate actions would be taken. Another speaker asked whether the police chief could be removed immediately or, if not, given daily accountability to an outside person.

Several commenters alleged problematic uses of the charge of…