The controversy over the naming of Lawrence Revell as Tallahassee's new chief of police continued earlier during the final week of 2019. Meanwhile the new chief was moving quickly to name a second-in-command.
A small group of activists gathered in front of Tallahassee City Hall on Monday, Dec. 30 to protest Revell's hiring. Among them was Paula Hill with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. She also had known George Williams, the teenager shot and killed by Revell 23 years ago.
"We want justice!" she asserted. "23 years later, he (Revell) belongs in a jail cell, not sitting in an ffice service as the police chief."
A Leon County grand jury had declined to bring charges against Revell after the shooting. But Denzell Pierre with the Tallahassee Community Action Committee insists citizen oversight of the police is needed.
"We mean an elected board of civilians who hold police officers accountable," he said.
A few days later, the new chief was meeting with African-American pastors to gain their support. He was also accepting applications for deputy police chief until January 10th.
