TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Just a day after support came flooding in for Tallahassee's new chief, there's now major pushback against Lawrence Revell from a social justice group.
Tallahassee Community Action Committee is meeting at City Hall Monday morning, along with the family of George Williams. They want to reverse the decision to make Revell chief.
"We don't believe Lawrence Revell has the level of accountability or credibility to be police chief," said Denzel Pierre.
Pierre and members of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee all want one thing: a different police chief.
"We have to remember to look at this case with George Williams with light, respect and compassion," said Pierre. "We often go in these situations with black men or black people in general, highlighting their faults and their flaws and highlighting their mistakes without looking at the other side."
Revell shot and killed George Williams in 1996.
Police say it happened when Williams, a black teenager, hit Revell's partner with a car.
While he was cleared in that shooting, 23 years later, Revell is still defending what happened that day.
"This was a tragic event but one in which the grand jury concluded the officer bravely performed his sworn duty in a professional manor consistent with his training and experience," said Revell.
TCAC and Williams family does not believe that was enough and want the city to move on to a new chief.
Despite their calls for change, the city says it's ready to move forward with Revell leading the department.
"We always welcome the community's voice. That's why we did the process. That's why we had so many different voices in our community partners committee," said Tallahassee City Manager Reese Goad. "What I know our community will do, because I've lived here a very long time, this is my hometown this is our great city, is we'll come together."
The conference is expected to happen at City Hall on Monday at 11:30 a.m.
