Ferguson, MO (KTRS)  Four organizations of finalists are being considered to serve as an independent monitor of Ferguson’s consent decree.

On Tuesday night, residents heard from the finalists during a community forum at the Ferguson Community Center. The finalists are Ebevy YG, Lemire LLC,  Squire Patton Boggs, and  Police Performance Consultants.

Felicia Pulliam of the Lemire LLC team says calls this an opportunity to not only serve the community, but to be an example.

“This is a regional issue. We can be an example to the rest of the municipalities and the police departments and also a national example of best practices of how a community, its elected officials, and its police department work together to serve the best and highest interests and needs of the community.” said Pulliam.

During the public feedback session, Blake Ashby had some harsh words for Pulliam.

“You were one of the people at the city council meeting shouting down the mayor when the city council was expressing concerns about the costs of the consent decree and my recollection was that you accused the city of Ferguson of “this is proof of racism” because of the fact they didn’t want to pay a very high price for the consent decree.”

Resident Jeanie Bescher also spoke at the forum. “We need a monitor which will be fair and objective because I don’t feel the DOJ has been fair and objective with us. We need a monitor which will to the job in an effective and expeditious manner.”

Ferguson community members have until Thursday to submit their feedback on the selection process to the city of Ferguson or the Department of Justice.

The community can email their feedback to the following individuals:

• Ferguson City Manager De’Carlon Seewood (dseewood@fergusoncity.com),
• Department of Justice, Amy Senier (amy.senier@usdoj.gov),
• Ferguson Counsel, Jared Hasten (JHasten@winston.com).

On July 15, the City of Ferguson and the Department of Justice will confer and seek to reach agreement on an Independent Monitor. The parties will submit their selection to the Court, or notice that they have not been able to reach an agreement, on July 19.