By Ron Calhoun
(Updated 11/24/2021)
Congratulations to Justin Bibb, the new mayor of the City of Cleveland. Residents used the power of the vote to send a message. Ten years of business as unusual is not enough! Progress is the future of the city.
A much-needed change in city politics is the message. Public servants should be strategic in making decisions serving in office.
The voters want and need change and progress. The change starts with public safety and accountability for council members, city department heads, and Cleveland city workers.
Voters unanimously passed Issue 24, revised the Cleveland Charter Amendment to establish civilian oversight of the Cleveland Division of Police. The number one priority for the city council and the mayor. Many major cities in the United States have police oversight. Civilian oversight is nothing new. Cleveland Documenters Facts: Read here:
The most effective model is the auditor/monitor-discipline rendered model. Of the 200+ oversight committees across America, 4% have the auditor’s model.
Three models exist.
- The investigation-focused model involves routine, independent investigations of complaints against police officers. This may replace or duplicate police internal affairs processes. It is common for non-police civilian investigators to staff them.
- The review-focused model concentrates on commenting on completed investigations after reviewing the quality of police internal affairs investigations. Recommendations to police executives regarding findings, or there a request to investigate. A review board composed of citizen volunteers commonly heads this model. They may hold public meetings to collect community input and facilitate police-community communication.
- The auditor/monitor modelfocuses on examining broad patterns in complaint investigations. Including findings, discipline rendered, the quality of the investigations. In some cities that use this model, auditor/monitors may participate in or monitor open internal investigations. This model seeks to promote broad organizational change by conducting systematic reviews of police policies, practices, or training, and making recommendations for improvement.
The revised Cleveland Charter Amendment is a work in progress. The language is confusing. The amendment has the leverage to change policing in Cleveland. Read more about: Civilian Oversight of Police in Major Cities
The Mayor and Council must fill vacancies within 60 days of when they arise. No more than one Board member may be a resident of the same police district unless the City establishes fewer than nine districts. At least two members should be attorneys with experience representing victims of police misconduct or criminally prosecuting police misconduct. At least one Board member should where reasonably feasible, be between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of appointment. No Board member may be employed currently as a law enforcement officer and no member may be a current or former employee of the Cleveland Division of Police. Read the full petition here: Who will be affected other than the police?
This new civilian oversight will have a ripple effect on the Cleveland Police Monitoring Team. They have been ineffective in changing the culture of the Cleveland Police Department. Cleveland Community Police Commission gaslighting to position themselves for future funding. Mental Health Response Advisory Committee (MHRAC) lacks transparency in supplying timely information to the public. Others would include the Office of Professional Standards (OPS) and the Cleveland Police Union. The Union is suing the city and in March of 2022 will negotiations the Cleveland Patrolmen’s Agreement. This should and will be the focus of the new administration over the next 100 days.
A second priority is changing the culture of city hall and the people who work for the citizens of Cleveland. Bibb will institute a Mayor’s Office of Data and Performance Management System. (Quality Control and Performance Management) The Mayor will utilize customer service surveys (CitiStats) whenever city workers meet with the public.
Bibb should continue to canvass the city to maintain his obvious connection to the people in the city of Cleveland. Let’s stay engaged by holding all our civil servants accountable and helping our new mayor modernize the city of Cleveland. Civilian oversight does not have to be something bad.