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Families and community leaders demand officer removal and independent review after viral video shows student struck at Fairfield High
Summary
Dozens of residents and regional advocates told the Fairfield City Council they saw a video of a student being slammed and struck on campus and demanded removal, decertification and restitution for Officer Camacho; the city manager announced an independent outside investigation and a citizen audit committee review.
Fairfield residents filled the council chambers May 26 to press elected officials for immediate action after videos circulated showing a Fairfield High student, identified by family members as Maurice Williams, being restrained and struck on campus.
The meeting opened with a City Manager statement that the city will hire an independent outside investigator to review the incident and that an independent citizen audit committee will review the investigator's report and recommend any action to the police chief. The City Manager said staff will also organize community meetings to begin a healing process.
Public comment then dominated the evening. Lisa Romero, who said she is a nurse and works with teens, described watching a student held on the ground and struck and said, "We want justice. We want accountability." Ramesha Stevenson, who identified herself as Maurice's mother, told the council she had not been contacted by the department and demanded a public apology and restitution for the family. Several speakers alleged that the officer admitted on camera to striking the student; one commenter said the officer told him, "I punched him," while others urged the council to pursue decertification rather than a transfer or administrative leave.
Faith leaders and community organizers urged broader reforms. Pastor William Harris said the city must pursue "accountability, transparency, training, and partnership leadership," and called for trauma-informed approaches when officers interact with minors. Goldie Williams said the Bay Area was watching and demanded "real accountability, not symbolism."
Speakers described the student as an honor-roll youth and warned that inaction would fuel further protests and legal action. Multiple commenters demanded the removal of a badge number (1761) they associated with the officer, requested that the officer not be transferred into other jurisdictions, and asked for the creation of permanent independent police oversight.
At several points the council and staff reminded the public that an independent investigation is underway and that due process limits what officials can say publicly about personnel or pending investigative findings. Several council members said they were listening and committed to reviewing the independent report before taking further personnel action.
The meeting did not include a formal vote on personnel. The City Manager's announcement of an independent review and the participation of a citizen audit committee were the most concrete commitments made on May 26; the council said it would reconvene any formal policy or discipline votes after receiving that report.
Next steps: staff will retain an independent investigator and the citizen audit committee will review that report, after which council and department leaders said they would consider specific disciplinary or policy actions.
