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Washburn commission approves police contract after emotional accusation; commissioners demand evidence
Summary
A resident accused the McLean County Sheriff's Department of "targeting" him; commissioners asked for documentation and then approved the county police contract and issued an on-record apology to the sheriff's office for the meeting disruption.
A tense exchange at a Washburn City Commission meeting on May 12 ended with the commission approving the McLean County police contract and formally apologizing to the McLean County Sheriff's Department for a disruptive period of public remarks.
A resident alleged he had been "targeted" by the police five times over three years and said he had not been given video of an interview. Commissioners repeatedly asked for documentation and urged the complainant to pursue established complaint channels. No documentary evidence was presented during the meeting.
After the confrontation, commissioners moved to approve the county contract as written and then adopted a separate motion, seconded by multiple members, to apologize to the McLean County Sheriff's Department for the earlier disruption. City staff and commissioners emphasized the need for productive, documented channels when raising concerns about law-enforcement actions.
What happens next: Commissioners asked the resident to submit documentation if he wished the commission to pursue an inquiry, and staff will finalize and sign the county contract per the commission's approval.
