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Grieving resident alleges problems in police response; city says matter is under investigation
Summary
A resident whose father was killed spoke during public comment alleging corruption and investigative shortcomings at the Columbiana Police Department. City officials said they cannot comment on an open investigation but will investigate any formal complaints.
A resident addressed the council during public comment, saying her father was murdered about 20 days earlier and urging an investigation into what she described as corruption in the local police department.
She recounted the family's experience and asked for investigative scrutiny, saying the family had seen problems in handling the case. "My father was murdered on Highway 26...20 days ago," she said, and later added, "It's your police department. It's a it's a joke," emphasizing frustration with the handling of her family's case.
The council and chair expressed condolences and said the city was limited in what it could disclose while the police matter remains an open investigation. An official told the speaker, "since this isn't still an open investigation, we can't comment," and added that the city would investigate complaints and take them seriously when the investigation and internal processes allow for public comment.
There was no formal city response or finding recorded at the meeting; the matter remains an open investigation and unresolved in the public hearing record.
