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Tensions rise at London City Council meeting

The City of London
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Facebook

Tensions rose at a London City Council meeting Monday as citizens questioned councilmembers about government transparency.

Multiple outbursts from both citizens and council members derailed the council’s monthly meeting.

That comes in the wake of a fatal shooting of Doug Harless by London police after officers apparently showed up at the wrong address. The department stopped wearing body cameras in March of 2023. They’ve since ordered new cameras in response.

London citizen James Jones was among those accusing council members of not being transparent.

“You said yourself to take the cameras off the buildings and put them on the cops, how about we take the cameras and put them on you guys behind closed doors?” Jones asked.

Jones was among those escorted out by police for continuing to speak after his allotted time.

He also played a recording of a conversation he said was between him and Councilmember Anthony Ortega, who allegedly told Jones to criticize London’s mayor during public comment.

“The only reason why I am here today to speak, and the only reason why Anthony Ortega and Kelly and Judd and Justin and Stacy all agreed to let me speak today, is because they thought I was going to stand here and bash the mayor of London,” Jones said.

The city’s next council meeting is scheduled for March 3.

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Shepherd joined WEKU in June 2023 as a staff reporter. He most recently worked for West Virginia Public Broadcasting as General Assignment Reporter. In that role, he collected interviews and captured photos in the northern region of West Virginia. Shepherd holds a master’s degree in Digital Marketing Communication and a bachelor’s in music from West Virginia University.
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