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Residents and attorneys urge police accountability; council hears calls for civilian review board
Summary
Three speakers — a lifelong resident and two local attorneys — told Charleston City Council they have received multiple complaints and videos alleging repeated misconduct by a police unit and urged public investigation and civilian oversight.
Residents and local attorneys told Charleston City Council on Nov. 17 that a pattern of alleged misconduct by members of a specialized police unit warrants a public investigation and stronger civilian oversight.
"I want these people to be held accountable," Rico Moore, a lifelong Charleston resident and attorney, said during the public-comment period. Moore said he and other lawyers sent a letter to the council after receiving repeated complaints and videos alleging misconduct by officers assigned to a specific police unit. "Don't put a band aid on it. It needs to be fixed," he said.
Olu Bumi Kusimo Frasier, who identified herself as a lifelong Charleston resident and a former Kanawha County prosecutor, described the conduct she has seen as "extrajudicial punishment," saying officers sometimes appeared to mete out punishment outside the criminal‑justice process. "When an officer hits someone when they're serving a warrant, that is extrajudicial punishment," Frasier said, and she called for accountability and oversight so residents can feel safe reporting wrongdoing.
Jeffrey Cullip, a local attorney and signatory to the letter referenced by other speakers, cited the Charleston Police Department policy manual and urged "a full comprehensive public investigation" into unnecessary uses of force by current and former members of the SEU and the warrants unit. Cullip read portions of the department manual he said refer to officers' duty to intervene and report unnecessary force, and he contended some video evidence shows escalation rather than de‑escalation.
Mayor Goodwin thanked the speakers and the council heard several members echo concerns about transparency. Council member Solomon proposed setting aside time for a series of discussions with police and the community about creating a citizen review board or similar civilian oversight mechanism to review policies, complaints and disciplinary processes.
Solomon noted past petitions and a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report recommending that civilian review boards review complaints and make disciplinary recommendations after internal investigations. "A civilian review board is generally charged with the duty of reviewing complaints and making recommendations as to disciplinary action," Solomon said, and he invited council members, police and community leaders to continue the conversation.
The council did not take formal action on police oversight at the Nov. 17 meeting; speakers asked for a public investigation and for council to consider creating a civilian review mechanism, and several council members expressed interest in convening further discussions.
The council meeting continued with separate agenda business related to retiree health coverage and procurement.
