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WAAY 31 asked the Decatur Police Department to release the surveillance video of the person who vandalized the Steve Perkins memorial. Police only released the following screen grab:

Folks who live in Decatur said the picture shows them nothing.

In addition to this, a new set of pictures of what a person some say looks to be Mayor Tab Bowling removing a police memorial and pictures off the steps of Decatur City Hall has raised concerns for many.

Decatur residents are asking who leaked the pictures from the surveillance cameras. Why did Decatur police only release a picture of the Perkins memorial vandal, instead of the actual surveillance video?

WAAY 31 asked Police Chief Todd Pinion for an interview, but he declined. As far as the leaked picture, Pinion said the leak is under investigation. He said he wouldn't address the picture of the Perkins' memorial vandal or the surveillance video, but said it is under investigation.

On Dec. 27, 2023, WAAY 31 requested the security camera video of the Perkins memorial vandalism, and Decatur City Clerk Stephanie Simon said in an email, "The video you have requested is unavailable for release because it would disclose security measures which are not public records."

The response is being called "stonewalling" by several folks that live here in Decatur. Many of those residents want to know that if police want to catch the person who did this, why not just release the video? Residents also said many of those security cameras are in plain sight, and several have said they have concerns that the police department, Bowling and the city's legal team are trying to protect someone. WAAY 31 also brought those concerns to the city clerk, and right now we are waiting to hear back from her.

WAAY 31 Weekend Anchor Rob Sneed asked Bowling for an interview at Tuesday night's council meeting, but Bowling declined and rushed out the door.

WAAY 31 has put in a new Freedom of Information Act request to get the surveillance video of the Steve Perkins' vandalism incident.