COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of miles away from Memphis, people in Columbus feel the pain and frustration after the death of Tyre Nichols.
On Monday, City leaders, elected officials, the Columbus Division of Police and members of the community brought their pain to the City of Grace Church to talk, listen and heal.
"Tyre Nichols wasn't a man he was a son and a father. and we all less without him,” said Mayor Andrew Ginther.
"I think that the fact that the officers were Black, it shows that this is systemic. This is a system that cannot be changed with a change of programs,” said attorney Sean Walton.
Residents talked about ways to improve the City of Columbus. In attendance was Rebecca Duran, mother of Donovan Lewis.
"This excessive force…it runs rapid,” she said.
Rebecca said Monday marked five months since her son was shot and killed by Columbus police officer Ricky Anderson.
“Lots of local people whether they're government officials or citizens will jump at the opportunity to speak on something that happened somewhere else but when it comes to deal with our own problems it usually falls on deaf ears,” said Duran.
Anderson has since been placed on administrative leave.
Duran said watching what happened to Tyre reopened emotional wounds, and she wanted to make sure that she spoke with leaders.
There to listen was Columbus Chief of Police Elaine Bryant.
"We're not going to allow or tolerate anyone to mistreat anyone to do anything criminal. We're addressing it, we're not sweeping anything under a rug, we are holding our officers accountable,” said Bryant.
10TV spoke with Bryant afterward. She told us since she and others arrived at the department, they’ve been working to change the culture.
Bryant said that starts at the top.
"We have to make sure that we're open and transparent. We have to make sure we're listening to the voices that are telling us what they need," she said.
Duran said she hopes the change will happen so that no mother has to endure her pain.
"I can only pray that that door has been opened and truly open for conversation,” said Duran.