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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 investigations and recommend policy and training changes. Jamir Caldwell called for the council to compel release of body-camera and dashcam footage and to hold a public hearing in which officers involved answer questions and community witnesses testify.
Police Commissioner Blackwell told the council two citizen complaint forms were filed and said the department will investigate. Blackwell described the location as a large, fast-moving crowd with as many as 2,000 people and said officers from outside agencies were on scene to assist. On the use of OC spray, Blackwell said, “In large, rapidly shifting crowd situations, OC spray is one of the least intrusive options available. It is nonlethal, temporary, and allows for crowd control without resorting to more aggressive physical engagement.” She added that reviews will include body-camera footage, police reports and witness statements and that investigations will be guided by facts rather than speculation.
Speakers at the mic pressed for faster transparency and stronger preventive measures. Requests included mandatory de-escalation and crowd-management training for officers assigned to large community events, designated police liaisons for permitted events, and clearer pre-event security plans (including private security identified by the event organizer). Several residents described short-term health effects from the spray and said ambulances were slow to arrive; one commenter said she feared for the safety of young people after seeing officers draw firearms in the crowd.
Mayor Ruth said the city is collecting evidence, will review body-camera footage and is planning a public listening session without the three-minute restriction for members of the public and for department staff to present findings and take testimony. The council also discussed mechanisms short of direct disciplinary authority — including requesting that the police chief release footage and directing staff to report on training, staffing and pre-event procedures — while acknowledging that discipline of officers rests with the police department and chief.
Council members and the mayor agreed to schedule a public meeting that will allow extended community testimony, and the police commissioner said the department will complete its review and report back. The city did not announce a date or deadline for final disposition of any investigations during the Oct. 22 meeting.
The council ended the meeting by reiterating a commitment to follow up publicly: officials said they will review available body-camera evidence, meet with event organizers about pre-event planning and propose next steps at a forthcoming listening session.
