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Greensboro residents press council for police accountability; city says body‑cam release requires court order
Summary
Students and residents urged the Greensboro City Council to demand transparent investigations and release body‑worn camera footage after recent use‑of‑force incidents; city staff said the police chief is preparing a petition to the superior court and that involved parties may view footage at the department under disclosure rules.
Students and community members urged the Greensboro City Council on Nov. 10 to pursue immediate changes to police training, oversight and transparency following several recent use‑of‑force incidents.
"We cannot build a safe city on silence," said Nevaeh Hodge, a student at North Carolina A&T, describing an Oct. 6 incident she said left a student injured and calling for "real accountability and real reform" including de‑escalation training and community oversight.
The nut of the speakers' demands was clearer rules and faster access to evidence. Tatiana James, a junior criminal justice student and NAACP leader at A&T, asked the council to "commission a review of our current police training's curriculum, consult with experts in community policing and behavioral health, and invest in programs that teach officers to prioritize prevention over punishment." Dennis White and others called for written consent policies for searches and for release of body‑worn camera footage in full.
City and police officials described the legal path the department is pursuing. City staff said Chief Thompson has prepared a petition for the Superior Court to authorize public release of body‑worn camera footage; that petition is expected to be reviewed by the chief when he returns and then filed with the court, where scheduling is dependent on the superior court calendar. Staff also said involved individuals or their representatives may request to view footage at the Greensboro Police Department under the department's disclosure process, but full public release requires a signed superior court order pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes.
Police attorney Joshua Bowers and other staff outlined two paths: local disclosure (in‑person viewing by people whose face or voice appears in the video) and a judicial release that would allow broader public distribution. City staff said they would forward the petition when the chief approves it and would seek judicial approval that could allow council members to review the footage in closed session shortly before public release.
Council members who heard pleas from students and clergy acknowledged the urgency of the requests and staff said they would follow up on the petition and disclosure steps. No formal council action was taken at the meeting; speakers insisted they would keep pressure on the council to produce tangible policy changes.
The council is expected to receive updates from the police department and legal staff as the petition moves through the superior court process.
