As part of a city-wide reform effort, the mindset of Cleveland’s police will shift away from a “warrior” approach to that of being a “guardian.” ideastream’s Brian Bull has more on today’s press conference with the Chief of Police and Mayor.
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While the consent decree still needs to be approved by a U-S District Judge, Cleveland’s Chief of Police Calvin Williams says there are already initiatives underway to address problems raised in a December Justice Department report. That study found “systemic deficiencies” within the CPD, including the use of force.
Williams says since last year, there’s been training within the CPD to change the way officers respond to situations that could escalate into conflict.
“Our officers have been trained to survive, to be prepared, to basically go out within our neighborhoods and be…like what we’d assume, to be in the military,” said Williams.
“To basically protect and be vigilant, and things like that. And to be a guardian, you have to know your community, you have to care about your community, and you have to be engaged with your community.”
Williams says this shift is happening in other police departments across the U.S.
Steve Loomis, head of the city’s police union, says there’s no separation between being a warrior and a guardian:
“In order to be a guardian, you need to be a warrior on occasion. Our actions are dictated by the decisions that other people make. Period.”
Meanwhile, both Chief Williams and Mayor Frank Jackson insist, “There will be reform.”
28 people and companies so far have applied for the independent monitor position that would oversee how well the City of Cleveland complies with the police reforms agreed to with the U. S. Justice Department.
The position was established as part of that agreement. The candidate would be hired within 90 days of a U.S. District Judge approving the consent decree.
Speaking to reporters today, Mayor Frank Jackson said little about the current status of the search, except….
“It’ll be nationwide, and whoever rises to the top…what we want is someone that is knowledgeable, that is fair, and that is really in line with what the Department of Justice and the City has agreed on in spirit.”
Jackson says applications have come in from both local and national candidates. The position lasts five years but could be extended if needed.
The consent decree follows a critical Justice Department report that found flaws in CPD training and protocols, after several lethal clashes between officers and residents in recent years.