Tallahassee city commission to meet as protesters demand police chief's ouster

As city commissioners work through their regular meeting agenda Wednesday afternoon, protesters plan to be outside City Hall demanding the police chief's firing.

The Tallahassee Community Action Committee opposed Police Chief Lawrence Revell’s hiring last year because of his 1996 fatal shooting of George Williams.

Now, with fatal shootings of three people in Tallahassee, the group is demanding City Manager Reese Goad remove Revell if he does not step down voluntarily.

In the response to the shooting of Tony McDade last week, the group plans to hold a car caravan and traditional protest outside City Hall starting at 3 p.m., though commission meetings are being held online because of the coronavirus.

McDade was shot and killed following a fatal stabbing in which the transgender Tallahassee man was a suspect. Police have said the officer fired after McDade threatened him with a gun, but many residents of Holton Street and Leon Arms apartments, where the shooting happened, are doubtful.

Two other people, Mychael Johnson and Wilbon C. Woodard, have been killed this year in altercations with TPD officers. 

Moreover, protests have erupted across the country after the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville during police encounters. 

Tallahassee commissioners will meet at 3 p.m. via live stream that can be watched on Comcast channel 13 or on the city’s website at talgov.com. Here are highlights from the agenda:

To cancel July 4 celebrations or not?

City officials will weigh whether to cancel the annual July 4 celebration usually held at Tom Brown Park as part of their update on the state's "Phase 1" reopening progress in Tallahassee.

To avoid a huge event that could potentially result in a large number of people being exposed to the virus, the city may cancel the event, which draws crowds in the tens of thousands from across the region.

City staff has identified several alternatives: Backyard Olympics between household members, patriotic scavenger hunts, neighborhood car parades and a livestreamed fireworks display. Staff have set up a website, TLHCanDo.com, with resources on celebrating alternatively.

Grant money for teen center program

A $184,500 grant for the Palmer Munroe Teen Center could mean the continuation of the Community Connections Restorative Justice program.

The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice grant would cover three years of the program, which taps into case management, community service, restorative justice panels and circles, and nonviolent communication training to help roughly 50 teens.

Approval of TMH Board members

Commissioners will weigh approving the election of four new members of the Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare Board of Directors. The city owns the land, buildings and other assets of the hospital and is tasked with confirming members of its board.

A request to confirm Joedrecka Brown Speights, M.D., Hugh VanLandingham, M.D., Claude Walker, and Joe Soto, M.D. was received May 1.

Reopening Forestmeadows facility

The U.S. Tennis Association has awarded the city a $5,000 grant to reopen the Forestmeadows tennis facility in accordance with health guidelines associated with the coronavirus pandemic.

It is required the grant be used to cover costs associated with equipment, cleaning and other sanitizing efforts that can help facilities reopen safely.

Authorized expenses cover tennis balls and teaching equipment, cleaning equipment, no-touch items like sliding doors, scanning software and anything else required to reopen.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.

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