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Public commenter alleges long-running police misconduct, asks Oroville council to investigate
Summary
Thurman Hodge used his public-comment time to repeat allegations that local law enforcement and other agencies were involved in drug-selling and blamed that conduct for his cousin's death; he asked the council to question named officers and investigate existing sworn testimony and paperwork.
During the public-comment period, Thurman Hodge told the council he had long-standing paperwork and sworn testimony alleging that the Oroville Police Department and other agencies had engaged in wrongdoing and asked the council to investigate. He said his cousin Otis Chapelle was murdered and that officers had accused him incorrectly; he urged the council to seek answers from named officers. "I have the proof of it, and I don't understand why nobody up here has went to anyone and asked these entities, is this true or not?" Hodge said.
Council staff reminded Hodge that public comment is a three-minute statement period and not a Q&A, and no formal investigatory action was pledged at the meeting. Several council members expressed sympathy but did not commit the council to a specific investigatory step during the meeting. The mayor and staff advised Hodge about other investigatory channels (grand jury, county offices) and said the city would receive his paperwork if submitted through appropriate channels.
The council accepted the public comment as part of the meeting record; no formal motion or direction to open a city-led investigation was made during this session.
