Lake City City Hall: After Sunday’s ‘Officer Shot’ – Extreme Police Presence at City Hall Last Night
April 22, 2025 9:40 am | 2 min read
LAKE
CITY, FL – Lake City City Hall had maximum
police presence for last night’s Budget Workshop
and the following City Council meeting. After an
Easter Sunday celebration on the North Side of
Lake City, in which a police officer was shot
trying to break up an altercation at Annie
Mattox Park, the calmness inside City Hall did
not reflect the police action going on outside
and in the City Hall lobby by the elevators.
Inside the Council Chamber it was quiet, while
outside it was another story.
Beginning in 2022, after a gun-toting incident in City Hall when a white guy connected to some of Lake City's glitterati was asked to leave City Hall for packing a gun into a Council meeting, the City installed metal detectors.
Last night, in the street outside of the
Council, there was a contingency of police
officers.
Since that time, everyone goes through the metal detectors, is wanded, and their bags are searched. Yes, attending a Lake City Council meeting is almost like getting on an airplane.
Inside the chamber Sgt. Johns was protecting the
left Council flank. City Finance Director Angie
Taylor looks on.
With all those safety measures, City Council meetings are monitored by police officers on either side of the City Council and the Police Chief in the back of the Chamber. Many times, the Chief is accompanied by the Assistant Chief.
Lt. Register guards the right flank of the City
Council.
However, last night, the police presence was upped. Besides the usual three to four police officers in the Council chamber and the two outside the Chamber manning the metal detector, two patrolmen were in the lobby watching folks get onto the elevator. Outside the building entrance, at least four LCPD officers were monitoring the building entrance.
Deputy Chief Andy Miles and LC Asst. City
Manager share a light moment amongst all the
security. Mr. Johnson said to make sure to get
his good side. Dep. Chief Miles said the view
was definitely not it. Sgt. Johns is in the
background.
Is Lake City safe? Absolutely: If you are attending a City Council meeting and make it into the City Hall parking lot.
