By LINDY DONLEY
The Alva City Council met Monday evening for a special meeting to discuss and vote on recent controversial vehicle citations after the car show, and the status of the police chief.
Recent debate has been taking place in Alva after the 25th Annual Big Cruise and Car Show, where numerous vehicle citations were given to competitors. Participants and spectators took to Facebook to share their frustrations and called on the Alva Mayor, Joey Melton, to make the necessary leadership changes in the city police force.
Monday evening, a special city council meeting was held to settle this matter. Melton opened the floor for the public to state their concerns and watch the council to vote on this issue.
The city council voted on two of the citations and ended up striking those citations from the agenda. While being asked by another council member about the revenue made from the city from the citations, Councilman Kelly Parker stated that it is “not a significant amount.”
After the tickets were voted on, the floor was opened for public comment. 15 individuals shared their thoughts on the alleges over-policing situation.
Retired Alva City Tourism Committee President, Norville Ritter, shared his concerns on the financial implications that this may have on the community. He explained that tourism has increased greatly in Alva because of the car show, as well as many other events hosted in Alva, and that over-policing can hurt this growth.
Ritter went on to inform the council that many car show attendees have expressed that they do not plan to return to Alva or the car show because of this situation.
Eric Neilson, a citizen of Alva, explained that this situation has gone on much longer than most realize.
“Let’s be real, that might be the final straw that tipped us over,” Neilson said. “That’s not what started all of this, though, it’s been a long time coming.
Neilson and other commenters went on to explain throughout the meeting that the Alva Police Chief, Benjamin Orcutt, primarily lives in Vici, although maintains Alva residency. Later in the meeting, Rebekah Cook, the mother of Jalin Willyard who was shot and killed last year in a police shooting, spoke on this matter.
Allegedly, officer Andrew McVicker was the police officer connected to the shooting if Willyard, and was recently arrested in August 2026 for exploitation of an elderly person and conspiracy. Cook expressed her frustration towards the Alva Police Department in her speech, highlighting these incidents.
After multiple citizens spoke, the council meeting continued into an executive session to decide the fate of the Alva police chief, and the department. After nearly two hours, the executive session ended, and the council invited the public to join the meeting again, where the council members voted to review the status of the current police chief and department.