Activists press Fayetteville council for independent oversight and 'sentinel event' review after recent officer-involved shooting

Sean McMillan, a community organizer and advocate for community safety, urged the Fayetteville City Council on March 13 to pursue independent oversight of the Fayetteville Police Department and to initiate a sentinel event review process following a recent officer-involved shooting of Isaiah Nichols.

McMillan recalled demonstrations and community demands in 2020 seeking independent oversight and said a list of local deaths in police custody or by police action underscored the need for systemic review. He asked the council to develop a sentinel event review, repeal the city’s no-camping ordinance that he said criminalizes people experiencing homelessness, and to restore consideration of immigrant-neighbor support measures that had been tabled.

“We can only expect this list to grow if nothing is done to independently examine the factors that led to lethal encounters and or alleged misconduct,” McMillan said, naming community members who have died in such encounters. He called for transparency and for the council to “initiate development of a sentinel event review” and to restore votes he said would support immigrant neighbors.

Council did not take immediate action on these requests during the meeting. Mayor Mitch Colvin and staff said staff and appropriate officials would be available to follow up with the speakers on questions and concerns, but no formal direction or timeline was adopted for the specific reforms McMillan requested.