By: Diane Benjamin

Remember this meeting?

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Don’t look for video because the library has no way of broadcasting or taping meetings. Expect more meetings to be held there when transparency isn’t wanted.

If you just want the basics about this meeting, read any media recap like this one: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-08-29/police-leaders-field-questions-from-the-public-on-hiring-accountability?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

If you want more keep reading.

The meeting had to be closed after 2 hours. Discussions were well received and I hear worth the time. The audience consisted of Not In Our Town, NAACP, ACLU and some interested citizens.

Who wasn’t there? Bloomington City Manager, either of Bloomington’s Deputy City Managers, Mayor Mwilambwe, wanna-be mayor Cody Henricks, and most of the Council.

Alderman Donna Boelen was there the whole time. Aldermen Jenna Kearns and Molly Ward made an appearance. Dan Brady, mayoral candidate, was there the entire time.

The library didn’t setup the room in advance. There weren’t any tables for the presenters and no chairs for the crowd. One staff person wanted to charge the PSCRB $50 for setting up the room. After Library Director Jeanne Hamilton was called, the room got set up.

Flashback to 2019 and this story: https://blnnews.com/2019/10/01/city-of-bloomington-police-officer-squires-stripped-of-police-powers-prior-to-resignation/

That officer wasn’t prosecuted and then went on to work briefly for the Sheriff’s department. Officers shouldn’t be able to jump to another job because their record was buried. That policy caused the death of Sonya Massey.

Of course that was a different police chief. Citizens don’t expect perfection but they do expect truth. Hopefully this Chief does better.