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Erie County Council adopts resolution on death of Marcello Woodard after weeks of public pressure
Summary
After multiple nights of public comment demanding answers and a town hall, Erie County Council voted 5-2 Oct. 7 to adopt a resolution acknowledging the death of Marcello D. Woodard and recommending policy reviews, de-escalation emphasis and pursuit of funding for body cameras for county-affiliated law enforcement.
Erie County Council on Oct. 7 approved a resolution acknowledging the death of Marcello D. Woodard and recommending that county-affiliated law enforcement review use-of-force policies, emphasize de-escalation and seek funding for body-worn cameras. The measure passed 5-2 after more than an hour of public comment in which residents repeatedly asked the council to hold a town hall within 30 days and pressed for transparency in the investigation.
The council-approved text, read aloud at the meeting, states in part that "Erie County Council formally acknowledges the tragic circumstances of the death of Marcello D. Woodard and extends its condolences to family and loved ones," recommends regular policy review and de-escalation training, and "recommends the pursuit of funding and the procurement of body cameras for all county affiliated law enforcement." The resolution passed with yes votes from Councilman Drexel, Councilman Horton, Councilman Winarski, Councilman Copeland and Chairman Scatella; Councilwoman Schauerman and Councilman Bale voted no.
The vote followed sustained public comment. Susanna Faulkner, an Erie resident, invoked the 97 days since the July incident and asked the council to imagine if one of them were killed: "If you cannot imagine waiting 97 days to do that for me... then why has it been 97 days for Marcello D. Woodard's family and community to have answers?" Faulkner asked the council to schedule a town hall within 30 days and to invest in youth programs in the county budget.
Other speakers at the meeting repeated similar demands. Mimi O'Connor said the Woodard family had been "made invisible" and called for accountability; Michelle Dovishaw described children who fear going outside and asked why no one had provided answers after 97 days; Jerry Roberts and others called on elected officials to use their influence on behalf of the family. Cole Shemley criticized political posturing and urged council members to be candid about where they stand. Several speakers stressed the emotional toll on the family and the wider community.
In response, Chairman Scatella defended council members' deliberative process and their roles. He said the body had been working on measures related to the incident and that some council members were willing to move ahead "not because it's compelled, it's the right thing to do." Scatella said council's core duties are budget and policy but added that members undertake other community actions as part of their work. Several council members also cited advice from the county solicitor about commenting during an ongoing criminal investigation.
The resolution does not direct any particular criminal or administrative action in the ongoing investigation; it expresses the council's condolences and policy recommendations. Council members who supported the resolution cited the need to pursue reforms to prevent future tragedies, while dissenting members cited caution during an active investigation.
The meeting record shows the resolution passed 5 to 2. The council noted future meetings: Finance and Personnel Committee on Oct. 16, 2025, and the next regular council meeting on Oct. 21, 2025.
Votes at a glance from the Oct. 7 meeting appear separately in a companion roundup article.
