At the city of Monmouth’s quarterly town hall Jan. 29 where guest speakers gave their general perspectives in civics, it was a full 45 minutes before an audience member asked a direct question related to the unrest in Minnesota.
The city hosted the town hall in the wake of several officer-involved shootings in and around Minneapolis that also featured organized protests that exacerbated the situation. The evening’s lineup of guest speakers included state Rep. Paul Evans, Monmouth city attorney Justin Thorp, Police Chief Isaiah Haines and Polk County District Attorney Aaron Felton. After their prepared remarks, in an audience of more than 30 in attendance, one asked the panel would the city say as a group that if somebody or something is impeding a police officer, that is a violation?
Haines asked him to clarify “impeding a police officer.”…