![Columbus Police blockade the intersection of Broad and High Streets in downtown Columbus on May 30, 2020. [Paige Pfleger / WOSU]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a3cb17/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2100x1400+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F06%2F867216777_1636951062.jpg)
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has declared a state of emergency and signed an executive order extending the city's curfew indefinitely, in the wake of continued protests over the killing of George Floyd.
Ginther also announced the creation of a new email address to report potential misconduct by Columbus Police officers during protests.
The curfew will stretch from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. nightly. "During the hours of curfew, persons must not travel upon any public street, sidewalk, or public place," the order reads.
Violating curfew is considered a misdemeanor, with a punishment of up to a $1,000 fine and one year of prison.
Law enforcement, fire and medical personnel, as well as the news media, are not subject to the curfew. Also exempted are people experiencing homelessness, those seeking medical care, fleeing "dangerous circumstances" or traveling between work and home.
Columbus' curfew will remain in effect until rescinded by the mayor. Curfews are also in place in Cincinnati, Youngstown, Cleveland other cities.
On Sunday night, hours before curfew was set to begin, Columbus Police used tear gas to disperse protesters downtown and threatened arrest for those who remained. The confrontation followed a day of mostly-peaceful demonstrations where law enforcement was mostly absent.
Ginther and several members of Columbus City Council have criticized the police response to protests. In a since-deleted tweet, Ginther called some of the actions by Columbus Police "aggressive" and said the city was investigating those incidents.
On Monday, the mayor tweeted that people who feel they have been mistreated by police officers can email information to a newly-created address, reportCPD@columbus.gov, instead of filing an official report with the Internal Affairs Bureau.
If you feel you have been mistreated by the Columbus Division of Police during these last few days of protest and do not want to file with the Internal Affairs Bureau, you can email the information to reportCPD@columbus.gov
— Mayor Andrew Ginther (@MayorGinther) June 1, 2020
Robin Davis, a spokeswoman for the mayor, said some residents don't trust Internal Affairs, so the city set up a way for complaints to be heard outside of the police department. Complaints will be reviewed by civilians in the Department of Public Affairs.
Residents can continue to file reports with Internal Affairs, as well.
Protesters resumed demonstrations Monday afternoon in front of the Ohio Statehouse. Ginther and Columbus City Council members have planned at a press conference separately on a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis, which the council plans to pass at their meeting this evening.
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