Decatur city council president discusses third-party review plan

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Decatur city council president Jacob Ladner said that the city’s plan to hire an outside agency to review conduct and procedure within its police department is on schedule.

On June 3, Ladner called for that review after some members of the city council expressed concern about police conduct.

Although not on the agenda for Monday’s city council meeting, the main topic continues to be the impending review.

“Contract details seem to be ahead of kind of the track we were on to get it voted on July first so if that changes, I certainly will let everybody know but right now, we seem to be right on track to get them going right after the July first meeting,” said Ladner.

Ladner told News 19 that both he and Mayor Tab Bowling met with Huntsville-based Green Research and Technology last week to discuss the contract details. Ladner is hopeful of getting the details in place this week and expects a unanimous vote for it to pass.

“I expect support from everyone, and I have not heard from anybody in the community on either side of this issue that doesn’t think that this is a good idea,” said Ladner. “I expect full support from the police department, the council, the mayor, and everyone involved.”

During a gag order hearing in the murder case against former Decatur police officer Mac Marquette, several members of the department were also questioned about the department and their handling of the police body cam video of the shooting of Stephen Perkins in his driveway on Sept. 29.

The video of the shooting was leaked to the public in March.

NAACP president Rodney Gordon says a third-party review was needed for Decatur police in the days after the police shooting death of Perkins.

“We’re going to give this whole thing a chance,” Gordon explained. “People in city government have come up with different ideas but we’re too late for that, but we’re going to have to use Mr. Green and use his expertise and give him a chance.”

Tory Green is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Huntsville-based company Green Research and Technology.

Ladner said he expects the police review details to be in the next city council work session on Monday, June 24 with a vote to take place on July 1.

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