CHAMPAIGN – The city council on Tuesday night decided not to move forward with an $85,000 independent review of a June 2011 arrest and the use-of-force policy.

Police officers and community members both said the review would have been a waste of money, but some still want answers about why, they claim, a police officer was so aggressive after apparently stopping a black man for jaywalking.

“I don’t think that we are saying not to look at the use of force as far as policy, as far as culture, as far as training,” said council member Will Kyles. “What I’m hearing is that this measure may not get us to our desired goal.”

The council ultimately voted 6-3 to defeat hiring a consultant to give the matter further review. Even the mother of the arrestee told the council not to move forward.

“I do think there needs to be a review of some sort, but $85,000 is not worth it,” said Tammy Ward.

The city’s police union invited city officials to meet with them for a discussion. If they still want answers, they said, an informal discussion with police officers instead of a formal review of the incident would be the way to do it.

"Certainly, further questions could be answered without spending $85,000 of taxpayer money,” said police union attorney Tamara Cummings.