She described the photographs she had obtained from a nearby business and the statements provided by two people who had witnessed the confrontation.
She explained that the photographs appeared to contradict important details in the police report.
She also described how other families had contacted her after hearing about her efforts.
One man had been accused of threatening an officer during a traffic stop.
A woman had been identified in a report as the driver of a vehicle she had never owned.
Another person had been accused of interfering with an investigation, even though the original witness statement did not identify him.
The cases were different, but Iris believed they shared a common problem.
The people accused had struggled to obtain copies of the evidence used against them.
And the complaints they submitted were often marked as resolved without a clear explanation.
Thomas listened while taking detailed notes.
THOMAS REED: "Mrs. Whitcomb, did you personally examine all forty-nine cases?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I examined the documents that the families gave me. I didn't investigate every incident myself."
THOMAS REED: "That's important. We will need to verify each case separately."
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I understand."
HELEN CARTER: "Do you have a list of the people involved?"
Iris nodded.
She removed another sheet from the envelope.
It contained forty-nine names arranged in several columns.
Beside each name were dates, incident numbers, and short notes.
Helen examined the page.
HELEN CARTER: "This will help us establish the scope of the review."
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Some of them are still afraid to speak."
ADRIAN COLE: "We will handle their information carefully."
IRIS WHITCOMB: "They need to know that nobody is going to punish them for telling the truth."
ADRIAN COLE: "I agree."
Thomas looked at one of the entries.
THOMAS REED: "This case has the same incident number as a file we found in the administrative archive."
Iris leaned forward.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Which one?"
Thomas showed her the number.
She nodded immediately.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "That's one of the files I brought here last year."
THOMAS REED: "Do you remember who accepted it?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Officer Turner."
THOMAS REED: "And did you receive a receipt?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "No."
THOMAS REED: "Did he tell you what would happen next?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "He said someone would contact me."
Thomas wrote down the answer.
HELEN CARTER: "We'll compare your list with the department's records. If the files are incomplete, we will document that."
Iris looked toward Adrian.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "There's something else."
ADRIAN COLE: "What is it?"
She reached into the envelope and removed a photograph.
It showed a group of documents arranged on a table.
At the top was a police report.
Beneath it were several handwritten statements and a photograph of a man standing beside a vehicle.
Iris placed the picture in front of Adrian.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "This is what I was trying to show them."
Adrian examined it.
ADRIAN COLE: "What am I looking at?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "The original report says the man in this photograph threatened an officer. But the photograph was taken before the officer approached him."
ADRIAN COLE: "Who took the photograph?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "A shop owner across the street."
ADRIAN COLE: "Did the shop owner provide a statement?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Yes. It was included in the folder I submitted."
Thomas looked at the photograph again.
THOMAS REED: "Is the statement in the original file?"
Iris shook her head.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I never saw it again."
Thomas placed the photograph in a protective sleeve.
THOMAS REED: "We'll need to locate the original statement and contact the shop owner."
Iris nodded.
Then she looked at Adrian with an expression that made him pause.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Commander, there's a reason I came back today."
ADRIAN COLE: "Tell me."
IRIS WHITCOMB: "Someone called me last night."
The room became quiet.
HELEN CARTER: "Who called you?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I don't know. The number was blocked."
ADRIAN COLE: "What did the person say?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "They told me to stop bringing documents to the police station. They said the department was changing leadership, but nothing would change for people like me."
Adrian looked at Helen.
HELEN CARTER: "Did the caller identify themselves?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "No."
ADRIAN COLE: "Did they threaten you?"
Iris hesitated.
IRIS WHITCOMB: "They said I should think about what might happen if I continued."
Thomas stopped writing.
THOMAS REED: "Did you save the call?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I still have it on my phone."
HELEN CARTER: "We'll arrange for the phone information to be documented through the appropriate evidence process. Please don't delete anything."
Iris placed her phone on the table.
Adrian felt the urgency of the situation increase.
Someone was attempting to discourage a witness from cooperating.
That made the investigation more serious.
ADRIAN COLE: "Mrs. Whitcomb, are you safe where you're staying?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "I think so."
ADRIAN COLE: "Do you have anyone you trust who can stay with you?"
IRIS WHITCOMB: "My niece lives nearby."