TOLEDO, Ohio — There was supposed to be a city council meeting Tuesday but due to four of its members being arrested it was canceled. Leaders were expected to talk about policing reform.
Members were supposed to vote on multiple pieces of legislation that the four members that are under investigation had a major role in.
A vote on subpoena power to the police civilian review board was expected to take place. The board is designed to give more oversight into local police misconduct.
Tyrone Riley was the lead on that legislation. Larry Sykes was pushing for and introducing a no-knock warrant and body camera legislation, which were also on the agenda.
With uncertainty about whether or not Yvonne Harper, Sykes, Riley and Gary Johnson will remain on the council, other community members like Julian Mack with the community solidarity response network are ready to step in should the opportunity arise.
"We need to put power in the hands of our people and that is how we effectively hold law enforcement (...) accountable I absolutely think that no-knock warrants put law-enforcement and civilians in danger that they don't need to be in," Mack said.
He also questioned the timing of the charges.
"It is very suspicious timing and I really hope that there is not a more sinister aspect to this, where this derails change locally by removing the local Black-elected officials," Mack said.
Mack has pulled paperwork for forming a committee to run for council if one of the four resigns. Since the meeting was canceled, it is not yet determined when these issues will be voted on.