Residents urge council to appoint interim chief Sarah Lambrania amid accusations of retaliation

Several residents used the public-comment period to urge the council to appoint interim Police Chief Sarah Lambrania as the permanent chief and criticized the conduct of the council majority.

Paul McCrae, a newly appointed Parks and Rec advisory board member, said he "would like a permanent police chief" and urged the council to "make chief Lambrania the permanent head of the police department in Percival sooner rather than later." Multiple speakers noted that the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police had recommended Lambrania and that local department personnel supported the appointment.

Other commenters alleged retaliation, claimed the council's actions had produced negative attention and said recent personnel decisions — including an indictment involving town officials and disciplinary disputes — merited reversal or better explanation from the council. Christy Morgan and other speakers read excerpts from grievance-panel materials and criticized the majority’s decisions as "reactive, opaque, vindictive, and destructive." One resident told the council, "Percival deserves character, courage, and accountability."

Council members heard the comments but did not immediately adopt a motion to appoint the chief on the consent calendar; procedural questions, Robert’s Rules concerns and objections about making motions off-agenda interrupted attempts to force an immediate vote. The public-comment segment set a clear political tone for the meeting and framed subsequent council discussion and motions.