Residents press Sedona council on police conduct and hotel-voucher sheltering

Public forum comments on March 24 focused on policing and a local hotel-voucher program. Michael James Long, who identified himself in the meeting, spoke at length alleging repeated mistreatment by the Sedona Police Department, including an incident he said resulted in being tased and subsequent brain injury and denial of footage; he referenced prior lawsuits and called for protection of his rights under the Arizona Constitution.

Rachel Collins, a Sedona resident who said she addressed the council in January on homelessness issues, thanked Cottonwood Catholic Charities and Tony Allender for taking responsibility for an emergency hotel-voucher program that helped elderly and disabled residents during several days of freezing rain and hail. Collins said the change in program administration removed the Sedona Police Department from a gatekeeper role, allowing vulnerable residents to access hotel shelter during a weather emergency.

Collins also told council she has filed a $1.2 million lawsuit naming the police chief, a commander and an officer, and noted Commander Dowell has resigned; Collins and others asked for more transparency about the resignation and about the scope and findings of a consultant-led culture survey the city has hired. She said community members reported incidents where Miranda warnings were not read, searches occurred without warrants, and detainees faced harsh jail conditions, and asked the council to investigate and increase transparency.

The mayor thanked the speakers and noted staff follow-up on public safety and service issues. No formal council action on police personnel was taken at this meeting; petitions and requests from public commenters will require separate staff reports or formal agenda items for council consideration.