The Oct. 29 forum held in Flossmoor to address police and community relations did not get great reviews from some of the local residents who have regularly spoken before the Flossmoor Village Board since the death of Madeline Miller in July.
Public comment during the Flossmoor Village Board meeting held Monday, Nov. 7, saw nine speakers continue to criticize village officials over their handling of the incident itself, as well as question the format and purpose of the forum. Two trustees also indicated they have received negative feedback about the forum, while two others inquired about modifying the format for any future sessions.
“Unfortunately, I’m not receiving positive feedback about the forum,” Trustee Rosalind Mustafa told the board. “The consensus I’ve gotten from residents is it felt incomplete; it didn’t feel focused.”
Mustafa said people also shared concerns about leaving a half-hour of the allotted time unused, no clear date being set for the next forum and why there was no time provided for residents to speak in the big group. One went so far as to call it a “waste of time,” Mustafa added.
Some criticized being asked for suggestions in the breakout room without being provided more information about what the village is already doing. She said the feedback was, in general, “mixed and negative.”
“I do think for the next one we would benefit from being a lot more intentional about expectations,” Mustafa said.
Trustee George Lofton said he got a “similar reaction” to the forum. He encouraged more promotion of any future forums to get more Flossmoor residents involved for better feedback.
“More participation I think would be helpful,” Lofton said.
Trustees Gary Daggett and Joni Bradley-Scott also commented about making the format more effective for any future gatherings. Bradley-Scott said she thought the village could have captured the subject matter differently with the title so that residents knew more conclusively what the forum was about.
Casey Kueltzo, of Homewood, said protesters have repeatedly asked for justice for Madeline Miller’s family. But the topic for the forum of “community relations and policing” did not include a mention of justice for the family, Kueltzo said.
“Healing, in this scenario, begins with justice,” Kueltzo said. “It’s followed by continuing accountability.”
Among the other criticisms from the public was the choice of Hazel Crest Police Chief Mitchell Davis as one of the forum’s facilitators. Mark Kuehner called the forum a “PR stunt.”
La’Shawn Littrice said the community still wants to see action from the village beyond the forum to make real change in the lives of people who live in Flossmoor.
“We’re going to continue to stand on behalf of Madeline Miller, not be silent,” Littrice said. “We’re very upset. We’re angry. We have a right to be when any one of our community members are taken down and no one talks about it and half of the community has never heard of Madeline Miller. We’re going to continue to say her name, amplify the voice of the family and make sure justice is done.”
At the meeting Nov. 7, Village Manager Bridget Wachtel gave a brief recap of the forum, noting people expressed mixed emotions, frustration, fear and mistrust during the breakouts. People also said they think there should be an action plan moving forward.
“The tragedy hit a nerve with some residents that racial tensions are present in the community, which is something forum attendees think the village should help address,” Wachtel said.
Wachtel added that village officials will be reviewing notes from the day and compiling a plan to address engagement of the community as well as increase understanding of police training and operations. She noted the village will continue working with others regarding CESSA implementation across the state. She also highlighted efforts to get information to residents in different ways.
Trustee Brian Driscoll added that he was not a proponent of the system where village trustees could not attend breakout sessions. But he said, to his understanding, on the whole those who took part in the breakouts left with a more positive view of the forum than people who did not.
He also questioned people who decided not to participate in the breakouts but have engaged in “ad hominem attacks” on village officials, which he called “counterproductive” to moving conversations forward.
“It’s unusual that they would come to this forum, not participate in the breakout sessions, engage in the attacks and expect anything else but bad results,” Driscoll said.
Mayor Michelle Nelson recognized additional communications needs cited by residents during the forum. She pledged the village will continue communicating with the public and utilizing multiple formats to convey information frequently.
“[The forum] was a great opportunity for those who participated to share what was on their minds and in their hearts, and how to do better at interactions between police and residents,” Nelson said.