Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Police topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wayne honors officers for church shooting response; resident raises constitutional challenge to proposed inspection language
Summary
At its May 19 meeting Wayne City Council swore in two new officers and Police Chief Ryan Strong presented awards — including for an officer who provided life-saving aid — and showed body-camera footage. During public comment a resident alleged a proposed public-works ordinance would authorize warrantless entries and called it unconstitutional.
Wayne City Council on May 19 swore in two new police officers and recognized multiple officers for responses to violent incidents, including a June incident at Crosspoint Community Church. Police Chief Ryan Strong described footage the department showed as demonstrating the "jaw-dropping level of bravery" officers displayed when responding to what staff described as active incidents.
Chief Strong told the council that the department's awards committee reviews nominations and highlighted three officers who received meritorious service awards for their response to the church shooting. He introduced body-camera footage to illustrate officers driving to the scene, exiting vehicles and moving toward the church while other citizens fled. "They put their lives on the line to keep citizens safe," the chief said.
The council also administered the oath of office to Officers Takia McDonald and Sierra Michaels.
Public concerns over inspection language
During the public-comment portion on agenda items, Deven Solomon, a candidate for city council, objected to language he said appears in a proposed ordinance regarding property inspections. Solomon said the policy "gives yourself permission to come onto private property without warrants, without exigent circumstances" and invoked the Constitution: "Fourth Amendment is the supreme law of the land." He urged residents to deny entry to city inspectors and said he would work to repeal what he described as unconstitutional ordinances.
The transcript shows no on-the-record rebuttal from council or staff during Solomon's remarks; the item he referenced was not debated further in that public-comment segment.
Other public remarks and city response
At the public hearing on the budget a different commenter, Davinci McFarland, criticized the budget process and named the city manager while making several fiscal allegations; some comments were disruptive and prompted a chair admonition to speak through the chair. Council closed the public hearing and later approved the budget.
City manager remarks
City Manager Diane (referred to on the record as the city manager) thanked staff and congratulated officers who received awards. She also clarified that the city is not paying for a private road into the Infinity Homes project and said the developer would use existing roads and leave a stub for potential future extension.
Why it matters: the awards recognize emergency responses that city officials said saved lives and illustrate local policing priorities; the public comment alleging warrantless inspection authority raises a constitutional concern that residents and council may need to clarify through ordinance text or future debate.
Ending: Council recessed to other agenda items after awards and public comment; the ordinance cited by the commenter was the subject of discussion elsewhere on the agenda (a first reading to align cross-connection rules with state law), but Solomon's constitutional objection was not resolved on the record at the May 19 meeting.
