At the close of Wednesday’s Troy City Council Law Committee meeting, Gertha Depas called on city officials to release a new report examining the April 2016 death of her son, Edson Thevenin, who was shot by City Police Sergeant Randall French after a traffic stop. 

Her family is suing the city in a civil suit. 

“I want answers. To this day I have not gotten any answers, period, from anybody,” Depas said.

The latest report was commissioned by the Troy Police Department but has not been made public. On Wednesday, law committee members reviewed portions of the 19-page document during an executive session behind closed doors. 

“We have been legally advised as members of the City Council not to speak about the specifics of these reports because it could influence the case,” said Colleen Paratore, Troy City Council Law Committee chairperson.

Council President Carmella Mantello criticized Madden, who was not at the meeting, for keeping the report’s contents private. 

“I am very, very displeased about the communication with the council, the communication with the family.”

“This is a gray and a black cloud on the city of Troy as a whole because you are only allowing so much to be public,” Mantello said.

Shortly after Thevenin’s death, French was cleared by the Rensselaer County DA’s office of any wrongdoing. However, a report by the Troy Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division, released this July, questioned French’s account of the events and determined his actions “greatly contributed to the outcome.”

“I need for Randall French to be fired. He is not supposed to be there, he is a murderer,” Depas said.

While council members would not provide specifics, they confirmed the new report counters some of the Internal Affairs findings.

“All I can say is the report certainly questions the Internal Affairs report,” Mantello said.

“Yes, there are inconsistencies,” Paratore said.

As her lawsuit prepares to go to trial this fall, Depas is still seeking answers about her son’s death.

“I want justice for my son Edson Thevenin,” Depas said.

Madden did not respond to our requests for comment on Wednesday. The full Troy City Council is scheduled to meet Thursday night, before which Thevenin’s mother and her supporters are planning a protest.