To the editor:

A big thank-you to the Lawrence Journal-World for its investigative reporting of our local police department. Through the many articles in the newspaper we can plainly see the urgent need we have as a community to demand transparency, truth and accountability from our local law enforcement officials. We are presently getting none of the above.

The police department’s internal 16-month “investigation” of their own officer, Brad Williams, apparently did not include an interview with the defendant, Jameson O’Connor, the no-longer employed fellow officer, Brian Wonderly, or review of the video surveillance tape of the incident from The Hawk.

It’s high time for the Lawrence City Commission to activate the inactive Community Police Review Board. This would be a great first assignment for the board that has had no cases to review in its two-year history. I will have zero faith in the credibility of our police department or our City Commission until that assignment occurs.

Rick Frydman,

Lawrence