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Residents urge Erie council to press for police accountability, body cameras and rethink public safety facility priorities
Summary
Multiple residents used public comment to urge Erie City Council to push for transparency after the Marcello Woodard killing, call for body-worn cameras across agencies, and ask that a proposed public safety facility prioritize EMS, fire and social services rather than militarized policing.
Several Erie residents told the City Council on Jan. 21 they want stronger oversight and transparency following the shooting death of Marcello Woodard and urged the council to press for measures such as body-worn cameras and structured public forums. "What our community has been asking for is not interference in the legal process," resident Jennifer Kennedy said. "What we're asking for is clear, consistent communication, invisible advocacy from our elected leaders so that silence doesn't take the place of accountability."
Henry Chiapa said he viewed the preliminary hearing for the Woodard case as an example of broader failures of accountability and warned against a public safety building that emphasizes armored vehicles or police equipment over other emergency services. "My hope is that that facility can be used to prioritize a city run EMS service, more facilities for the fire department," Chiapa said, adding he does not want a facility that becomes a repository for MRAPs or similar vehicles.
Michael Woodard, who identified himself as a family member, thanked city leaders and the district attorney for advocacy in the case and urged continued action on body-worn cameras: "So let's continue to move that forward with those body cams," he said, calling transparency essential so "we don't leave these families stuck in the dirt or in the dark."
Speakers also asked council to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement where legally possible and to hold regular, legally permitted public updates about investigations. The mayoral administration later told council it is preparing community conversations and a written plan related to the city's welcoming-cities application and has tasked staff to draft language about ICE cooperation.
The council did not take formal action on these requests during the meeting; speakers urged ongoing pressure and scheduled community forums and administrative follow-ups were noted as part of the administration's transition-team work.
Next steps: council and administration staff said they will continue community conversations and work on a written plan regarding ICE cooperation tied to the city's welcoming-cities status; no formal ordinance or vote on body-worn cameras occurred at this meeting.
