Citizens voice frustration during public comment on Jane Doe lawsuit settlement

Yahoo

04-04-2025

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Citizens had the opportunity to speak about the Jane Doe lawsuit settlement during Thursday evening's Johnson City Commission meeting.
The lawsuit was filed by women who claim to be sexual assault victims of convicted child predator Sean Williams. It claims the Johnson City Police Department did not fully investigate Williams, who is accused of drugging and raping dozens of women between 2018 and 2021.
Nearly all of the $28 million settlement would come from the city reserves.
DA speaks on pending Sean Williams rape prosecutions
Mayor John Hunter said he wanted to hear what people had to say. Emotions ran high during the public comment section. Some who spoke said they want the city to take accountability and feel like more needs to be done to address the allegations of corruption.
David Adams, a Johnson City resident, wants the city to conduct an internal investigation into the police department.
'It looks like there's an issue with officers who are still on the force,' Adams said. 'And I'm sure there are plenty of good people on the force who don't want that tied to them. But I want to know if there's bad people on the force walking out there. I've got a four-year-old daughter. I've got a wife, like, I don't want that in my community.'
Adams and others who spoke said they would like a different type of dialog between city officials and the public. Instead of just public comment, they would like to have a back-and-forth conversation, like in a community roundtable, about the allegations.
'It's three minutes,' Adams said. 'You go up there, you talk, you don't get responded to. You know, you hope you can email them after the fact and get an answer. But as one of the other commenters said, you don't always get the answers back from the city.'
Adams said it was a 'nice little first step.'
'You know, it seems more of a way for people to just vent out their frustrations,' Adams said.
Mayor Hunter spoke to citizens after the public comment period.
'The department's deficiencies combined with the heinous criminal acts of Sean Williams could have led to a verdict in the civil class action lawsuit that was recently settled,' Hunter said. 'It could have led to a verdict totaling more than our entire city's annual budget. Settling this case eliminated that risk.'
Hunter said the settlement represents the city's commitment to supporting the alleged victims and helping them move forward with their lives. He mentioned what the city has done to address the allegations.
'It's also important to know that last less than two weeks after concerns about Sean Williams came to light, the new city manager took steps to ensure transparency and accountability. She began looking for an independent expert to audit the police department, as has been mentioned, the Daigle Report. That action was swift and decisive to ensure our community was safe and that our police department was operating as in a way that was appropriate. This audit is and has been available on our website and the audit discovered deficiencies. And the city made sure they were corrected as quickly as possible.'
Hunter mentioned that funds were approved to hire 21 police officers and create a special victims unit, the commission supporting the Children's Advocacy Center by funding an additional forensic interviewer to assist child victims of abuse who face the task of testifying in prosecutions, JCPD updating its policies and procedures to protect and support sexual assault victims, and more.
He also addressed the TBI and FBI investigations into the JCPD saying they found no credible evidence of corruption, bribery, or criminal activity.
'But while there was no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, there were shortcomings in the handling of some police investigations,' Hunter said.
'But today we can assure you, our community, assure our community that the police department has improved how it investigates sexual assault cases.'
However, Adams said he felt frustrated with the mayor's response.
'So many times the city doesn't seem to be addressing the issue head on,' Adams said. 'Rather, they seem to be talking past people. People tell the city their concerns and the city answers a different question entirely.'
Mayor Hunter told News Channel 11 that the commission will need to process some of the comments that were made. He added that Sean Williams was rightfully convicted and said his heart goes out to everyone affected.
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