STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — State College Borough Council held a public meeting Monday night to announce the formation of a task force where anyone can report police bias and discrimination.
“We get the outcomes that none of us want, then it’s time to look at those processes and procedures. They are not the goal. The right outcome is the goal,” Council Member Evan Myers said.
But come locals said they’re not happy with just a task force. Many said they want more to be done, including the firing of the officers involved in the shooting, as well as more education and training for police.
“My purpose for speaking tonight is to ensure that you know the community is demanding reform,” one resident said.
“Osaze Osagie’s life mattered to me, his vulnerable, black life mattered,” another resident said.
Council members responded to the community’s concerns and agreed with many of their arguments, that something needs to change.
“Whether use of force as defined by the training or not I don’t know. I wasn’t there either, but it shouldn’t have happened,” Council member Theresa Lafer said.
But some community members were not satisfied with responses from certain council members, leaving the meeting before it eneded, during their remarks.
The Council said they hope the initial report from the task force will be available 9 to 12 months. They added the task force would consist of local police leaders, the school district, Penn State, and community members.