NEWPORT — Newport Police Chief Tom Fromme has agreed to meet with a local NAACP leader after a handful of people expressed concerns about the way officers responded to a large fight earlier this month.

        Jerome Bowles, president of the Northern Kentucky chapter of the NAACP, attended Monday night's city commission meeting after receiving complaints alleging officers used excessive force against African-Americans in breaking up the fight.

        The brawl involved a crowd of about 100 people shortly before 8 p.m. April 8 in the 400 block of West Sixth Street.

        The crowd that was dispersed April 8 included both African-Americans and whites.

        “When citizens bring us complaints against police,” Mr. Bowles said, “it's because they feel city officials are not listening. We want to hear their (the police department's) side before we make any conclusions because we want Newport to succeed. We are pleased we got a meeting with the chief.”

        Mr. Bowles said the chief explained that the department already has an internal mechanism to deal with the complaints. Chief Fromme said an automatic departmental review was triggered in the case because officers used force, either with their hands or a night stick.

        Department policy requires officers to complete use-of-force reports that are automatically reviewed by officials. Mr. Fromme said the review is not yet completed.

        “I don't feel they were being accusatory,” said Chief Fromme, who attended the commission meeting. “They wanted to make sure they have a voice that is heard at the local level. And we want everyone to participate in the local process.”

        A date for the meeting between Chief Fromme and local black leaders had not been set as of Tuesday. Mr. Bowles has asked that a prosecutor also attend the meeting.

        Court records indicate two people were arrested in connection with the fight and one person cited at the scene. Chief Fromme said there is an ongoing criminal investigation

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