Several church pastors and others supported the McKinney Police Department at a community meeting Monday night.
The meeting was aimed at helping the city move past the controversy that began when a police officer pushed a bikini-clad 15-year-old girl to the ground following a party last June at a community pool that drew a crowd of teenagers.
A Collin County grand jury last week decided not to indict Eric Casebolt, who resigned from the police department after the video was posted online.
"We're doing the best we can to reach out, and I think most the folks – the good people that live here in McKinney – realize that," said McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley.
The community forum, called "Moving Forward," was hosted by the McKinney Police Department, and featured several speakers.
Members of the community also aired their concerns in the wake of last week's non-indictment.
"I think this was a farce," said attorney Kim Cole, who represents the teenager thrown to the ground in the video.
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The teenager and her mother attended the meeting with their attorney, but did not speak.
"I think the process of healing cannot begin until you address the damage," said Cole. "If no one is ever held accountable there will never be any changes to the existing policies, procedures, practices and customs that allow this type of behavior to occur."
"We're sincere," Conley said. "She can't look into our hearts and we're doing the best we can to reach out."
The family plans to file a civil lawsuit against former officer Casebolt and the city.
Their attorney is now reaching out to others at last year's pool party to find out if they want to join the lawsuit.
