05-26-2015, 02:13 PM
The city of Cleveland and the Justice Department (DOJ) have struck a deal under which Cleveland police will take steps to address a pattern of unconstitutional policing.
The agency and the city will announce the terms of a so-called "consent decree" as early as today. The arrangement creates a court-enforceable agreement detailing steps the Cleveland Division of Police will take to address the pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing in the city. If no agreement had been reached, DOJ could have sued the city to force a change in its policing.
I'm anxious to read the consent decree and the reform policies -- it's about time Cleveland PD is put on the hook legally. Each DOJ investigation of the police force over the last decade (there have been three) has rendered dismal reviews.
I don't think it's a coincidence that CPD will announce the steps it will be taking to address unwarranted police brutality and use of excess force today. Many of the city's residents are pissed that Officer Brelo was acquitted on Friday. I think if the Sheriff's office from the neighboring county announces that its investigation clears CPD Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback of any wrong-doing or illegal action in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, there will be a lot of very angry Cleveland residents taking to the streets.
CPD needs to finally publicly admit that it needs to deep reform and what it plans to do about it. Maybe that will help keep Cleveland peaceful, regardless of what the Sheriff's offices announces in regards to the Rice case.
The agency and the city will announce the terms of a so-called "consent decree" as early as today. The arrangement creates a court-enforceable agreement detailing steps the Cleveland Division of Police will take to address the pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing in the city. If no agreement had been reached, DOJ could have sued the city to force a change in its policing.
I'm anxious to read the consent decree and the reform policies -- it's about time Cleveland PD is put on the hook legally. Each DOJ investigation of the police force over the last decade (there have been three) has rendered dismal reviews.
I don't think it's a coincidence that CPD will announce the steps it will be taking to address unwarranted police brutality and use of excess force today. Many of the city's residents are pissed that Officer Brelo was acquitted on Friday. I think if the Sheriff's office from the neighboring county announces that its investigation clears CPD Officers Timothy Loehmann and Frank Garmback of any wrong-doing or illegal action in the shooting death of Tamir Rice, there will be a lot of very angry Cleveland residents taking to the streets.
CPD needs to finally publicly admit that it needs to deep reform and what it plans to do about it. Maybe that will help keep Cleveland peaceful, regardless of what the Sheriff's offices announces in regards to the Rice case.