Mayor and auditor call for investigation as residents demand accountability after racist body‑cam remarks

Mayor Knudson opened the May 11 Eugene City Council meeting by condemning language captured on body‑worn video and announcing a coordinated review and investigation.

"I'm infuriated by the behavior of this now resigned officer," Mayor Knudson said, and told the council the incident had been referred to the Oregon State Policing Standards Board and that the independent police auditor had initiated an investigation. The mayor said the city would examine policies, training, supervisory practices and organizational culture.

Craig Wranetzky, the independent police auditor, told the council he discovered the footage on May 9, immediately began an inquiry and requested records from the Eugene Police Department. "The video was of such an abhorrent nature that I immediately started the process to bring formal allegations against the officer," Wranetzky said, and added that the officer tendered a resignation that day, which prevents filing formal allegations against an EPD employee but does not end the auditor's investigation into the incident and any related conduct.

Councilors across the chamber urged action. Councilor Evans described long‑standing community concerns and said the episode reflects a broader cultural problem within the department, calling for changes in recruitment, screening and training. Councilor Keating urged additional bias and implicit‑bias training and said the independent auditor should be supported in conducting a thorough review.

More than two dozen members of the public used the council's public comment period to press for accountability. Kevin Cronin, a Ward 7 resident, said Skinner "has failed to change the culture at EPD" and called for review of the chief's tenure. Latife Amato, who identified herself as a Ward 7 resident, said resignation of a single officer was insufficient accountability and described systemic failures in complaint processes. Jetty Eddie, who said she works with people living outside, recounted prior complaints she said were not acted on and said the resignation does not equal accountability.

Speakers asked the council to consider concrete steps including extending the time window for filing complaints with the auditor's office, giving the auditor broader investigatory authority, and pursuing policy or personnel changes at EPD. Auditor Wranetzky said his office would welcome additional authority and that "a late report is better than no report at all," but noted that changing statutory filing windows would require council action to amend local code.

Councilor Jennifer Yeh said the incident "happened on my watch" and pledged continued work with the auditor and police leadership to produce recommendations. The council did not take formal disciplinary action at the meeting; the auditor and the Oregon State Policing Standards Board will continue their reviews and the auditor asked members of the public to submit information that could assist the investigation.

The council closed the public‑comment period and moved to other agenda items; council members said further steps and reporting back to the body will follow as the auditor's review progresses.