Community members hold North Omaha town hall over recent officer-involved shootings

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Frustrations and concerns about police were voiced at a North Omaha town hall Sunday night.

This comes after two deadly shootings between Omaha Police and Black men in a month’s span.

37-year-old Cameron Ford died when Omaha Officer Adam Vail shot him coming out of his bedroom during a no-knock warrant on August 28th. Officer Vail said he couldn’t see Ford’s hands when Ford charged at him.

It turned out Ford was unarmed. The Omaha Police Chief has recommended Vail be fired. Not for criminal intent, but because he violated department policy.

The second incident involved 22-year-old Steven Phipps, which happened on September 28th near the North Omaha Transit Center.

Police said Phipps ran from police after a traffic stop for expired plates and pulled out a handgun as he climbed over a fence.

This prompted Omaha officer Noah Zendejas to shoot at Phipps eight times. The police chief said the officer had the authority to defend himself.

Community members expressed their frustration about both incidents on Sunday.

“We trust that the system will bring us justice, but the irony from standing on Sunday is that knowing injustice is taking place and we haven’t seen justice,” Leo Louis, Omaha resident said.

As Louis helped lead Sunday’s town hall, families of both Ford and Phipps sat among the crowd before it was their turn to talk.

Ford’s aunt called on change within the community, while Phipps mother and his family grieved his death.

“We have to start heading in the right direction to do the right things because this is hurting us,” Yvonne Hurt, Ford’s Aunt said.

“I don’t understand how they kept shooting my son eight times,” Phipps mother said. “My baby was the light, full of life, funny, charismatic and now I’m just broken right now.”

State leaders like Sen. Terrell McKinney pointed out several issues including better education on gun use and gun rights.

He also called for more accountability from police.

“It’s just frustrating that it hurts my soul because I’ve been jumped by the police before and I’ve been a apart of it,” McKinney said. “I’ve seen the police fight my grandmother and it’s just so much and it’s so painful; We keep living this trauma of the year after year seeing black women, black men not only here, but across the country being slaughtered by the police.”

Others present at the town hall emphasized how they want more unity among the Black community before work is done to make things right with police.

“As a mother and a woman I’m here to support you and I would love to see more leaders here and for all of us to organize something together and take control of our community,” April said.

“People, it is love that we must defend,” Olivia Ann-Matthews said. “The love of oneself and the love of one and one another.”