Slain captain’s family member takes mayor to task

At tonight’s Unified Government Commission meeting, a sister-in-law of slain Capt. Robert David Melton took Mayor Mark Holland to task for remarks he made at a news conference July 20.

While she thanked the UG for support and prayers, Lynn Melton also said she had two questions for Mayor Holland. She addressed the mayor during the UG Commission meeting, with John Melton at her side.

“You, Mayor Holland, stated at a press conference on July 20, 2016, less than 24 hours after Capt. Melton’s death, to a grieving family of both blood and blue, and to the entire community, and I quote you, ‘We have seen the loss of innocent lives at the hands of police,’” Lynn Melton said.

She said that led to two questions, “Could you please provide for the record the names of these people?” and “Why would you use this press conference to attack the very organization that protects you, your family and your church, 24-7 at taxpayers’ expense, as well as protects our community?”

Mayor Mark Holland responded that he would be honored to meet with her and talk with her and the family about that.

“I know this has been a painful time for our community and especially for our police officers, and for your family, and my thoughts and prayers are with your family, continue to be, and with Detective Lancaster’s family. It’s been a tragic summer. Certainly, I didn’t want anything that I said to cause any harm to you or to the men and women in uniform,” Mayor Holland said.

He offered to continue to talk with her and her family and continue the dialogue.

Mayor Holland then asked for another moment of silence for Capt. Melton and Detective Lancaster, and asked Sister Therese Bangert, who gave the invocation at the meeting, to offer a prayer. “Sometimes words do not carry what we need to say to You, or the depth of our pain, our questions, our doubts,” Sister Therese prayed.

In Mayor Holland’s July 20 prepared speech at the news conference, the mayor said his thoughts and prayers were with all the police officers and the family, and he talked about the danger of police work. Several sentences were devoted to prayers for the police, and he also talked about building stronger community relationships to reduce crime and violence. He also stated: “Captain Melton’s death reopens a raw hurt still festering within our community. Further, in the two months between our officers’ deaths, our nation has erupted with violence. We have seen the loss of innocent lives at the hands of police; and we have seen the ambush and murder of police who were actively protecting the public. Our nation is in uncertain times.”

Several remarks were seen at the time on social media about the phrase, “the loss of innocent lives at the hands of police.”

After tonight’s UG meeting, Mayor Holland said his heart goes out to the Melton family and he looks forward to the opportunity to sit down and visit with the family.

He said what he was trying to do in his speech July 20 was to give the “big picture as to what we’re facing as a nation right now.” He expressed concern for the family and said he is looking forward to a dialogue.

This meeting may be viewed on YouTube at

(at 16:15)