1819 News conducted a survey among municipal candidates in Homewood in reference to the deadly officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples.
Activists have threatened to boycott the city in the name of justice, and they want body-worn camera footage of the shooting to be released.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is in possession of the video but refuses to release it or let the family view it. Some Homewood city leaders have urged ALEA to show the video to the family.
The 1819 News survey addresses how candidates would address the issue if elected. The following are the answers as received by candidates.
Jennifer Andress, candidate for Homewood Mayor (Current City Council member, Ward 5)
The recent officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples has gained national attention due to ALEA's refusal to release body or dash cam video. If elected, how would you address the public on this issue? If an incumbent, how have you addressed this issue?
Statement I posted on July 2 on social media:
The recent tragedy at the Homewood Soccer Complex has deeply affected our community. My heart is with the family of Jabari Peoples as they mourn, and I am also keeping the officer involved and the entire Homewood Police Department in my prayers during this difficult time.
In moments like this, transparency is essential. The City of Homewood and the Peoples family have both communicated to ALEA their support for the release of the body camera footage, with the hope that it can provide the Peoples family and our community with greater clarity and peace.
Homewood is a compassionate and resilient city. I believe we can meet this moment together with empathy, honesty, and a shared commitment to healing, accountability, and trust.
Do you believe body-worn or dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting? If so, when?
I believe it should be released to the family. I would want the circumstances and family’s wishes considered before making a decision about releasing to the public.
What do you want the public to know about a city's ability to release body worn or dash camera video?
ALEA is the investigative, independent agency. The City cannot jeopardize ALEA’s ability to complete a thorough, objective investigation to uncover the facts of the incident in any way, shape or form.
JJ Thomas, candidate for Homewood City Council Ward 2
The recent officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples has gained national attention due to ALEA's refusal to release body or dash cam video. If elected, how would you address the public on this issue? If an incumbent, how have you addressed this issue?
The death of any child is tragic and my prayers are with Jabari Peoples’ family and friends as they mourn his loss. If I were on the City Council, I would use that role and responsibility to inform the community on the applicable laws and processes in which the City must abide.
Do you believe body-worn or dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting? If so, when?
As a City Council member, I would be in favor of full transparency and disclosure of all police camera footage while understanding our City is required to follow the laws in place. As has been disclosed the current Alabama law removes the ability for the City of Homewood to control the release of the footage in question, as legal custody and control rests with ALEA.
What do you want the public to know about a city's ability to release body worn or dash camera video?
As the Homewood Police Department has relinquished the investigation to ALEA, pursuant to the Code of Alabama, only ALEA is authorized by law to release any recording of the incident.
Nick Sims, candidate for Homewood City Council Ward 2 (Current Council Ward 3)
The recent officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples has gained national attention due to ALEA's refusal to release body or dash cam video. If elected, how would you address the public on this issue? If an incumbent, how have you addressed this issue?
The shooting of Jabari Latrell Peoples has been devastating to his family and to our community. It is a tragedy. After the shooting, the Homewood Police Department (HPD) immediately turned over all evidence to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA)per policy. I join the voices of other Homewood leaders who have called for ALEA to expedite the review the bodycam footage with his parents.
As an incumbent, I have been in ongoing communication with the City Manager, Mayor and fellow Councilors regarding this incident. I have spoken with Chief Ross, and I attended Jabari Peoples’ vigil at Homewood Soccer Park on June 30 in solidarity and in mourning.
I believe transparency and timeliness are critical in building trust. As a councilor, I will continue to work closely with the HPD to ensure they have the tools and training necessary to build an environment which promotes public safety for all. Beginning in late 2020, the City and HPD undertook a series of meetings with residents to review HPD’s use of force policy. Chief Ross engaged with residents in a positive and constructive manner throughout those meetings. The policy is available on HPD’s website. I’ve supported HPD in participating in de-escalation, unconscious bias, and other relevant trainings. I’ve also supported HPD by valuing the recruitment and retention of qualified individuals through increasing pay for all public safety employees.
Do you believe body-worn or dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting? If so, when?
I believe that body-worn or dash camera footage and sharing of appropriate case details should be released to the immediate family (or personal representative) of the deceased within 72 hours of the incident to be transparent and provide initial clarity related to the incident. This should be done in a timely manner for the sake of trust in the process with the understanding that the footage alone does not constitute guilt or innocence of any party.
What do you want the public to know about a city's ability to release body worn or dash camera video?
Per policy, the City of Homewood turned the investigation and case materials over to the ALEA who has jurisdiction over officer-involved shootings. Per Alabama Code Section 36-21-210 (2), ALEA is the custodian of the case materials. In 2021, the Alabama Supreme Court limited the ability for the public to view police camera footage in Alabama in the Lagniappe decision, declaring police related footage and materials as not being public record. Subsequent 2023 state legislation set forth a process for family (or other personal representative) to submit a request to ALEA for the opportunity to view body-worn camera footage, but the legislation did not specify criteria around timing or exemptions. This lack of detail essentially creates the scenario where sharing footage with family can be delayed until the case is closed or even denied altogether. I support a revision to this legislation to set forth timelines and narrow the criteria for denial so everyone involved – police departments, local governments and families – have more certainty about the process.
Keith Young, candidate for Homewood City Council Ward 3
The recent officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples has gained national attention due to ALEA's refusal to release body or dash cam video. If elected, how would you address the public on this issue? If an incumbent, how have you addressed this issue?
The death of Jabari Peoples is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected our community. In moments like this, trust, transparency, and compassion matter more than ever.
Under Alabama law, families can request to view body-camera footage, but agencies are not required to release it. That legal gray area only heightens public frustration and pain. The only path forward is to continue applying public pressure on ALEA to complete its investigation and allow immediate family members access to the video footage.
We, as citizens of Alabama, must also push for policy reforms that promote timely and responsible transparency — especially in cases involving the loss of life.
We can support our officers while also calling for clear, consistent communication and continued investment in de-escalation training. This isn’t about blame — it’s about building trust, preventing future tragedies, and ensuring every Homewood resident and visitor feels seen, heard, and protected.
Do you believe body-worn or dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting? If so, when?
Yes — I believe body-worn and dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting, but with thoughtful guidelines in place.
Video footage is captured for a reason: to support investigations, promote accountability, and—when individuals can no longer speak for themselves—to help tell their story. It should be made available to immediate family members as soon as the investigating agency completes its initial review.
While I respect the need to protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, Alabama’s current law leaves too much discretion in the hands of agencies. That uncertainty only fuels public distrust. I support clearer statewide policies that balance transparency with due process and prioritize compassion for victims’ families.
This isn’t about undermining law enforcement — it’s about making sure the systems that serve and protect us also reflect our values of truth, trust, and justice.
What do you want the public to know about a city's ability to release body worn or dash camera video?
I want the public to know that cities often walk a delicate line when it comes to releasing body-worn or dash camera video. While many people understandably want immediate answers, cities are typically required to wait for guidance from the investigating agency — especially in serious cases like officer-involved shootings.
In Alabama, recent legislation allows families or their representatives to request to view footage in which they or a loved one appear. But the law does not guarantee its release, and agencies can withhold it if they believe doing so protects an ongoing investigation. That can be deeply frustrating, particularly for grieving families who simply want clarity and truth.
We can honor and support our law enforcement officers while also recognizing the public’s need for timely, compassionate communication. Trust is built when people feel seen, heard, and respected — and I believe cities should advocate for clearer, more consistent guidelines that balance
John Manzelli, candidate for Homewood City Council, Ward 3
The recent officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples has gained national attention due to ALEA's refusal to release body or dash cam video. If elected, how would you address the public on this issue? If an incumbent, how have you addressed this issue?
My name is John Manzelli, candidate for City Council Ward 3. My brother is a 25-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department. I understand the value of good officers to a community and the devastating consequences when an officer breaks the public’s trust.
The officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples is tragic. I feel for both the victim’s family and the officer involved. In situations like this, the public deserves transparency, and the families deserve compassion. But transparency must respect due process. ALEA's refusal to release the footage has deepened public mistrust, but due process and legal proceedings are often painfully slow and simply require time.
I also recognize that the lens through which we view institutional trust and police interaction can vary greatly, shaped by our lived experiences and history. We must acknowledge this mistrust to move forward together.
As a city official, I would advocate for transparency wherever legally possible and push for clear, consistent communication with the public. I would also ensure the city is prepared to provide additional resources, training, or oversight to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Do you believe body-worn or dash camera footage should be released to the public following an officer-involved shooting? If so, when?
This is a complicated issue being debated across the country. It might seem transparent to say, "Release the video in 7 days," but most states don’t have laws requiring the release within a specific time frame. Timelines vary, ranging from 21 to 60 days or until the legal proceedings are finished.
Ideally, body camera footage should be released to the public as soon as it does not interfere with an active investigation or prejudice the judicial process. The challenge is, as the public, we’re not privy to what’s happening behind closed doors, and we likely won’t be until the investigation is complete. Every case is unique, so a fixed timeline isn’t realistic. However, transparency and justice must always guide the process.
My heart breaks for the family who can’t see what happened to their son. I hope they receive the footage as soon as possible, as that’s both a compassionate and reasonable approach. The public deserves to know that justice is being done, once all necessary steps have been taken.
What do you want the public to know about a city's ability to release body worn or dash camera video?
It’s important for the public to understand that in many states (at least 20), including Alabama, the investigation of officer-involved shootings is handed over to a state-level agency—in this case, ALEA. This structure is meant to provide neutrality and prevent conflicts of interest. However, it also means that the city itself may have little to no authority over the timing or content of video releases.
That said, the city does have a responsibility to communicate openly with the public, advocate for transparency, and take a clear position in support of justice—regardless of whether the investigation is local or state-led. If elected, I will work to ensure our city promotes policies that rebuild public trust and provide our police officers with the tools and training to de-escalate, engage, and protect everyone in our community. I pray that we don't have a minor trespassing call escalate into a tragedy that scars so many lives ever again in Homewood.
Candidates not listed did not respond to the 1819 News survey.
Municipal elections are on August 26.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
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