Cleveland entered into a Consent Decree with the Department of Justice in 2015. The decree mandated changes in the city’s police department after an investigation found that the Cleveland Division of Police engaged in a pattern of excessive force. The decree lays out a number of reforms for police including changes in use of force policy, bias-free policing, more diversity in recruitment and hiring and increased transparency and accountability.
The Consent Decree grew out of a two-year investigation launched by the Department of Justice after requests from the City of Cleveland and concerned citizens. Those requests were prompted by the 2012 police chase which ended in the deaths of unarmed citizens -- Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams -- in a barrage of 137 bullets.
The DOJ investigation found that the Cleveland Division of Police engaged in a pattern and practice of excessive force in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
The Consent Decree and its reforms seek to restore trust between the community and the Cleveland Division of Police and protect citizens’ Constitutional rights.
The initial agreement called for a 5-year plan of reform but there is more work left to do so the Consent Decree will be extended.
All year long, The United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland branch of the NAACP are convening a series of community conversations on the Consent Decree. Those conversations are being held monthly through 2021 and will focus on different aspects of the Consent Decree and involve key stakeholders in the reform process.
This month, the topic is crisis intervention training, and officer wellness.
Carole Ballard, Director of Education and Training, ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County
Bridget Brennan, Acting U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Ohio
Jawanza Colvin, Pastor, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church
Dr. Randolph Dupont, Cleveland Police Monitoring Team
Capt. James McPike, Cleveland Division of Police
Joellen O’Neill, Deputy Chief, Cleveland Division of Police
Rosie Palfy, Community Advocate, City of Cleveland’s Mental Health Response Advisory Committee
Harry Boomer, Anchor and Senior Reporter, Channel 19 News
