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Community Police Commission Members Speak at the City Club

By Gabriel Kramer

Three members of Cleveland's newly formed Community Police Commission took part in today's City Club panel. They showed the audience what some of their meetings might look like.

The president of the Cleveland Patrolmen's Association, Steve Loomis, suggested setting up mini-stations in city buildings, such as schools and libraries. They're small off-site offices for law enforcement that Loomis says would help get police officers out into the communities.

But Rhonda Williams from the Case Western Social Justice Institute disagreed saying that would make some feel the community was being taken over by police.

“You can have many stations without them being in every single place,” Williams said.

“I’m going to tell you there’s not a grammar school kid in the world that would not like to see a police officer…” Loomis said.

“I wouldn’t want it in my grammar school. I wouldn’t have wanted it in my grammar school growing up,” Williams said.

After going back and forth about the matter, Loomis and Williams, who both serve on the Community Police Commission, ended the argument with civility and agreed that this was the type of impactful dialogue that happens at the commission meetings. You can hear the argument in the audio above.

The group's next public meeting is October 28.

Gabriel Kramer is a reporter/producer and the host of “NewsDepth,” Ideastream Public Media's news show for kids.