Residents urge violence-prevention and police accountability after recent Moxham killing

Several residents used the public-comment portion of the Johnstown City Council meeting on Feb. 11 to call for violence-prevention investments and accountability in policing after a recent homicide in the Moxham neighborhood.

Krysta Riley, speaking from Moxham, said the community is "heartbroken to have lost a mother, daughter and friend" and urged council to prioritize violence-prevention strategies that are "not based in fear and politics but based in dignity and love." She opposed proposals to open a police substation in Moxham, saying community health and stability require collaborative, community-based approaches rather than a substation.

Terrence Andrews pressed council for greater police accountability, raising concerns about civil lawsuits he described as alleging police misconduct and asking whether the city’s insurance or budget was paying settlements. "I was there to advocate for accountability within the police department," Andrews said, while also acknowledging there are good officers and the city needs police who can do the job.

Chief of Police Mark Britton described department activity, including 2,503 dispatches in January and recent arrests in two unrelated arson cases, and said the department coordinates with Victim Services to support officers after traumatic incidents. He confirmed the department works with a chaplain and an employee assistance program, and that Victim Services connects officers and victims to follow-up supports.

Public commenters also raised related municipal issues: concerns about how assault allegations have been handled, microphone problems at council meetings, and broader frustration with conference center management and city responsiveness.

Next steps: the meeting record shows the council heard these concerns but no formal action on policing policy or a substation was taken at the Feb. 11 session.