The commissioner entered wearing a charcoal suit.
His shoulder was improving, though he still attended follow-up appointments.
The visible marks from the roadside encounter had mostly faded.
But the experience hadn't.
He could still remember the smell of mud.
The pressure against his back.
And the brief moment when he wondered whether the sergeant might force his face farther into the water.
He placed his notes on the table.
Then sat beside the county administrator.
The board chair opened the meeting.
She explained that the independent review remained ongoing.
Certain allegations couldn't yet be discussed publicly.
But the county could address procedural questions, describe the scope of the audit, and listen to residents.
A towing company representative spoke first.
He argued that legitimate operators were being unfairly criticized because of the actions of a few individuals.
The commissioner listened.
A retired police officer then expressed concern that the department's reputation was being damaged.
The commissioner listened to him too.
Then the woman whose son lost his warehouse job approached the microphone.
She carried the same envelope of documents she'd brought to the commissioner's office.
Her hands trembled.
She wasn't accustomed to speaking before large groups.
She looked toward the board.
Then toward the audience.
"My son had a car."
The room became quiet.
She continued.
"It wasn't a good car. It wasn't new. But it got him to work."
She swallowed.
"Then one morning, a police officer had it towed."
She held up the invoice.
"The fees kept going up."
Her voice tightened.
"He missed work. He lost his job. And when he asked why, nobody gave him a clear answer."
The board chair listened carefully.
The woman looked toward the commissioner.
Then back at the audience.
"I don't know whether that officer broke the law."
She paused.
"I'm not here to tell you something I can't prove."
The commissioner lowered his eyes.
She continued.
"But I know what happened to my family."
Her voice began shaking.
"My son borrowed money to get his car back. He couldn't pay it all at once. And every time he called, somebody told him another fee had been added."
The room was silent.
Then she asked, "If an officer makes a mistake, how is an ordinary person supposed to get anybody to listen?"
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
The board chair thanked her.
Then invited the next speaker.
A white American man in his fifties approached.