(Above) Derek Cooper addresses Danville City Council
A Veteran with PTSD living in Danville told the City Council during Tuesday evening’s meeting that he’s been stopped too many times by police, and he’s afraid of how he might react due to his condition. Derek Cooper says he’s been stopped nine times since 2018, with only one of them resulting in an actual ticket. He told us that the other times, he felt they might be looking for a reason.
AUDIO: After they stop me, then they ask me for my ID and everything; and when they explained what they stopped me for, it didn’t make any sense. “Air freshener hanging from the window.” “Crossing a yellow line” or “crossing a white line.” It’s kind of scary man, to me.
Lloyd Randle addresses City Council about police concerns, Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr uses gavel during an exchange with Randle after his public comment period.
Cooper addressed the Council briefly, and former Danville Alderman Lloyd Randle spoke for Cooper during the meeting as well. Randle said he wants the city to do an objective six year review of all traffic stops. He told us afterwards, that’s been done in nearby cities.
AUDIO: The City of Urbana commissioned a study, and organized a commission, so that all that information would be independent; so that at least everybody could see that there was transparency in the process. And I’m asking the City of Danville to do the same thing.
Danville mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. said there will be an initiative to have Mr. Cooper communicate with the Danville Police. But in the meantime, the mayor says; if there seems to be a problem, proper communication channels should be used.
AUDIO: Regarding Mr. Cooper; neither me, my office, nor administrator Finch, who oversees our human relations division, had been informed about any allegations prior to today. Literally, it was sitting here at my seat when I arrived. So we haven’t been given the opportunity to investigate or assist. Furthermore, Alderman Randle knows the process for filing a police complaint.
Mayor Williams concluded by saying that the city certainly wants to look into any alleged problems; and those who have authority to investigate the matter need to be informed right away.
