Residents demand accountability after alleged police mistreatment; calls to review department practices
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Summary
Multiple Wichita Falls residents used public comment to raise allegations of excessive force and poor community relations by local officers, urged investigations and leadership changes, and asked the city to preserve records; council listened but took no immediate disciplinary action during the meeting.
Dozens of residents told the Wichita Falls City Council on Feb. 3 that policing culture and specific incidents require city scrutiny and action.
Ian Campbell, who said he operates online as Wichita Audits, told the council he was arrested while filming inside a downtown post office and said the city’s investigation concluded “no wrongdoing” despite his account that an officer demanded identification without lawful basis. Campbell said he has filed notice of intent to sue the city and asked the council to preserve all records related to the incident; “This notice is to ensure that all potentially relevant evidence is preserved,” he said (public comment).
John Hutchinson said longstanding power structures have left residents, especially minority and low‑income communities, underrepresented and overpoliced, and called for the removal of Police Chief Manuel Borrego and criminal charges for officers involved in the handling of Victoria Lang. Hutchinson said Chief Borrego “has abused his authority” and that the department “has broken the bond between law enforcement and the community.”
Other speakers described personal encounters with officers they characterized as aggressive or dehumanizing. Crystal Washington cited departmental demographics and said Wichita Falls Police Department staffing is overwhelmingly white, supplying specific figures she said appear on the department website and arguing the imbalance fuels distrust. Brian Bagby described what he called violations of medical rights during an arrest and urged more humane treatment of vulnerable residents.
Speakers framed their requests as calls for transparency, better training, and accountability. Several asked the council to suspend deletion of records and to ensure investigations are independently reviewed. No formal disciplinary actions, votes, or new investigatory directives were announced on the council floor during the meeting.
What happens next: Members of the public asked for retention of records and for the council to take steps toward independent review. Council members acknowledged the concerns during general announcements and encouraged participation in boards and commissions; no binding action on police policy was taken at this session.
Sources: Public comment by Ian Campbell; remarks by John Hutchinson; comments from Crystal Washington and other residents during the Feb. 3, 2026 Wichita Falls City Council meeting.
