Private Public Meetings
Why the Silence?
It appears as though the Greeley City Council meeting that took place on February 6th, 2024 has been removed from YouTube, or made “private”, in violation of Colorado’s Sunshine Act and public meeting laws.
Since they have deprived us of the ability to view it, below is the transcript:
“On the morning of Oct. 9th, 2023, a Notice was hand-served to Weld County District Attorney, Michael J. Rourke.
On the afternoon of Oct. 9th, 2023, I had an involvement with the Greeley Police Department, where a roadside felony investigation was conducted by 5 Greeley P.D. officers.
On the evening of Oct. 9th, 2023, I served Notice to Greeley/Evans School District 6, during a public Board of Education meeting that can be viewed on YouTube. The livestream was pulled down almost immediately. After the meeting concluded, the video was re-uploaded to censor an entire paragraph, to protect the identity of a school administrator. The following day, the video was again removed from YouTube, this time to censor the identity of the real victim; a 6-year-old child, before it was re-uploaded.
At the end of the meeting, John Gates, Chief of Safety & Security for District 6, a former law enforcement officer, and our Greeley City Mayor, announced that the district was well-aware of the allegations, at not just one, but two schools; both in the city of Evans. John assured us that the Evans Police Department has thoroughly investigated both incidents, and found them to be without merit. Cases closed!
Important details, like child abduction, and GPS evidence, appear to have been omitted from the reports.
On Oct 12th, 2023, I received a Cease & Desist letter from an attorney representing School District 6, that demanded my silence, and a redaction. This letter implied that they could restrict my participation in public meetings, and threatened to use all legal remedies against me.
On December 12th, 2023, I submitted a request to the Greeley P.D. for bodycam footage from my roadside stop.
Over 6 weeks later, and after multiple follow-up attempts on my part, on January 24th, 2024, the footage was released to me. This footage, however, was incomplete, and of the footage provided, much has been silenced.
I have the right to know every word that was said by investigating officers, and my accuser; a former law enforcement officer, who recently ran for Weld County Sheriff.
I ask you, John Gates, and you, Doug Marek - Greeley City Attorney, and Adam Turk, our Chief of Police, is it your intent to withhold evidence in this case of public interest?
I ask, is it your intent to defraud me, charging me $67 per hour, per officer, for silent footage? I ask that I be provided all of the bodycam footage in my case, in its entirety, unedited. And I ask that honor be restored in this city, in our school district, and in this police department.”
Update 2/20/2024: The above public meeting from February 6th 2024 was made public again on YouTube
Update 9/3/2024: it was set to private again. Here is the link to view it on the city portal website: https://greeleyco.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1960/media (timestamp 15:30)
On another note, as of February, the 3rd edition of the 10/9/23 Greeley/Evans School District 6 public Board of Education meeting has been set to private, in violation of public meeting laws.
Many people commented on it before it was removed. Here are some of those screenshots: https://concernedweldcitizen.substack.com/p/silenced-bodycam-footage-silenced
If you missed it, you can hear a portion of the public comment at the very beginning of this podcast: https://rebel-patriot-radio.simplecast.com/episodes/rpr-episode-35-hmlt-q1h
Update 3/8/2024: A 4th edition of the October 9th BOE meeting was uploaded to YouTube, but there is no audio for the public comment.
Why all the silence?