Mayor Dailey Responds to Matlow’s Attacks on TPD

At the conclusion of the April 24th Tallahassee City Commission meeting, Mayor John Dailey took an opportunity to respond to City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow’s continued attacks on the Tallahassee Police Department related to a recent DUI case.

At the meeting, Dailey stated, “I’m getting tired of this Board criticizing police action after it goes to a jury of our peers. Commissioner Matlow I think it’s unacceptable. Look, we don’t have any control over the judiciary whatsoever. That is a completely separate body of government.”

However, he was quickly interrupted by Matlow who said, “That is out of order Mr. Mayor, that is a personal attack on the dais.”

Dailey responded, “I am addressing what you have been putting out on social media attacking day-in and day-out this institution, the manager, attacking the police department, and I am just tired.”

Dailey gaveled the meeting to a quick conclusion.

Matlow’s Attacks on TPD

Before, during and after the DUI trial, Commissioner Matlow promoted the narrative that a TPD officer had planted and/or fabricated evidence.

On April 6th, during the trial, Matlow posted on X, “Is there a point where you would deem it acceptable for law enforcement to fabricate and plant evidence during the course of an arrest?”

After the jury convicted the driver of a DUI, Matlow took to his social media account and posted, “The evidence presented at trial included all the hall- marks that drive distrust in law enforcement: phantom marijuana smells, fabricated evidence and incomplete body cam footage. Thankful for those that standup to injustice.”

In an email to TPD employees, Revell responded to Malow’s allegations.

Revell wrote, “I’m sure you have heard by now, but the defendant in this case was found guilty of DUI. Although they tried to discredit our officers and our department, the jury didn’t buy into the gross misrepresentation of the BWC (Body-Worn Camera) footage…” and noted the “well-publicized assumption of wrong- doing by City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow.”

However, until Mayor Dailey’s comments at the April 24th city commission meeting, no other elected official had responded to Matlow’s continued accusations.