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Residents demand investigation, oversight after police use of OC spray at Chester High homecoming
Summary
Residents and community leaders told Chester City Council that police used OC spray at the Oct. 18 homecoming celebration on Avenue of the States, injuring civilians and children. Speakers demanded release and review of body-camera footage, a transparent investigation, mandatory de-escalation training and consideration of a civilian oversight board; the mayor and police commissioner said footage and complaints will be reviewed and the city will hold a public listening session.
Residents and community leaders pressed Chester’s elected leaders on Oct. 22 to investigate what they described as an excessive police response at the Oct. 18 Chester High homecoming and related block party on Avenue of the States.
Roland Taylor, a downtown business owner and the event organizer, said officers “began deploying mace into the crowd, advancing families, elders, young people” and that one woman was hospitalized. “We would like a full transparent investigation into the police actions that evening, reviewing all body cam footage,” Taylor said.
Several speakers echoed that demand and called for policy changes. Harry Jackson told the council he saw children sprayed and others injured; Andrew Nelson urged the creation of a civilian police oversight board and said he had distributed a zero-cost implementation plan for a volunteer board to review internal affairs…
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