Coralville residents urge pride proclamation and denounce alleged officer misconduct at June 9 council meeting

Multiple Coralville residents used public comment at the June 9 Coralville City Council meeting to ask the council to adopt a Pride Month proclamation and to press the city to address alleged misconduct by a Coralville police officer.

Alison Bywater told the council she was “disappointed” that a recent request for leadership to recognize Pride Month “fell short” and offered a People’s Proclamation for the city to sign. Tara McGovern read from the proclamation and left it at the podium for residents to sign.

Several speakers linked Pride recognition and racial justice. Shelby Seager said “visibility and representation save lives,” urging the council to publicly support LGBTQ residents and questioning council sincerity if members planned to attend Pride events without formally recognizing the month. Amenda Green said recent federal rhetoric has alarmed community members and urged the council to consider the real‑world safety impacts of local words and actions.

Multiple commenters also accused a Coralville police officer, identified in public comment as Officer Joshua Van Brocklin, of making transphobic comments and misgendering people on social media. Solomon Fenton‑Miller asked the mayor and council to “denounce Officer Van Brocklin’s behavior and work with the Police Chief to make sure officers behave more respectfully to citizens of all identities.” Dan Kauble and other residents said they expected more proactive allyship from municipal leaders.

Council response during the meeting included an apology and a pledge to improve. Councilperson Hai Huynh apologized “for not being proactive in making sure the city recognized the LGBTQ+ community” and promised to “do better.” Councilperson Royce Peterson said he has “always believed in civil and human rights” and that he will stand with marginalized communities. The meeting record does not show a formal council action or disciplinary response regarding the officer during this session.

No Coralville police official offered a response during the public comment period recorded in the meeting minutes. The public record of June 9 therefore reflects allegations and requests for action; the council acknowledged the concerns but took no formal disciplinary or investigatory action on the record at that meeting.

What happens next: speakers asked for a formal Pride proclamation and for the mayor and council to work with police leadership; at least one councilmember pledged to be more proactive. The council did not vote on a proclamation or take formal personnel action during the June 9 meeting.