Allentown City Council to address changing police policies, discuss making body camera footage public
Written by Victoria Scialfa on July 15, 2020
Allentown City Council to address changing police policies, discuss making body camera footage public
By Tyler Pratt
July 15, 2020
On the heels of a release of a video showing Allentown police officers restraining a man in front of a local hospital, City Council meets Wednesday, July 16, to discuss changing police department policies. WLVR’s Tyler Pratt reports.
The release of the video showing an officer using a knee to restrain an individual, has sparked protests in the city, as it vividly recalled the footage of George Floyd in Minneapolis. On Monday, activist Arthur Benton, yelling into a megaphone, said the community wants to see actions from elected officials.
“Vote them out, they are more interested in having power than using that power to make actual change.”
To that end, three Allentown city councilmembers – Ce-Ce Gerlach, Joshua Seigal and Cynthia Mota – are introducing a resolution tonight that includes banning no knock warrants, removing exceptions for police to use choke holds and neck restraint and making body camera footage available to the public.
Tonight’s measure will need four votes from the seven-person council to continue. Two council members are retired Allentown police officers.
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