2021 Community Conversations

January 27, 2021

The goal of the Cleveland Consent Decree is to repair community trust and protect the constitutional rights of the people of Cleveland by

• IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS within the Cleveland Division of Police.
• CREATING AND IMPLEMENTING POLICIES and practices to correct those problems.
• DEFINING CONSEQUENCES for officer and/or Cleveland Division of Police failure to follow the rules of the Consent Decree.
• ESTABLISHING A PROCESS to monitor the Cleveland Division of Police to ensure the terms of the Consent Decree are being enforced.

In this inaugural conversation, panelists discussed the progress that has been made over the past five years and what still needs to be done to reach compliance with Consent Decree mandates.

February 10, 2021 Our February panel discussed the use of force within the Cleveland Division of Police. The Department of Justice acknowledges that the Cleveland Division of Police has made important changes to some of its force policies. Building on these improvements, CDP will revise, develop, and implement force policies, training, supervision, and accountability systems with the goal of ensuring that force is used in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the requirements of this Agreement and that any use of unreasonable force is promptly identified and responded to appropriately.

March 10, 2021 The Cleveland Consent Decree mandates the City of Cleveland Division of Police ensure that: • All allegations of officer misconduct are investigated • Findings are documented in writing, and • Officers who commit misconduct are held accountable. Our March conversation focused on transparency within the Cleveland Division of Police and accountability measures for officer misconduct. Our panel discussed the policies that have been put in place to ensure accountability, what the Cleveland Division of Police has done to improve oversight, and what still needs to be done to increase transparency and build trust with the community.

April 14, 2021 The Cleveland Consent Decree mandates the City of Cleveland Division of Police ensures that: • All allegations of officer misconduct are investigated • Findings are documented in writing, and • Officers who commit misconduct are held accountable. Our March conversation focused on transparency within the Cleveland Division of Police and accountability measures for officer misconduct. Our panel discussed the policies that have been put in place to ensure accountability, what the Cleveland Division of Police has done to improve oversight, and what still needs to be done to increase transparency and build trust with the community.

May 21, 2021

The Cleveland Consent Decree mandated that the Cleveland Division of Police build upon and improve its Crisis Intervention Program.

The Crisis Intervention Program is a first responder model of police-based crisis intervention that involves a dynamic collaboration of community, healthcare, and advocacy partnerships committed to improving the way law enforcement and the community respond to individuals in crisis. Our panel discussed efforts that can reduce the risk of serious injury or death during an emergency interaction between police officers and persons experiencing a mental health crisis.

In addition, we explored the physical rigors and stresses associated with criminal justice work and how this can result in police officers facing a variety of health issues throughout their careers. Unaddressed physical and mental health issues can take a toll on officers both on and off duty. It is therefore essential that law enforcement agencies continually promote officers’ wellness programming.

June 9, 2021

Over the last year, the world has been devastated by a pandemic and acts of violence. We have watched, sometimes helplessly, as members of our families and communities have been victims of violent behaviors, including police shootings.

Cleveland families and communities impacted by such distress have found diverse ways to react to these traumatic events. Running for elected office, advocating for new legislation, creating foundations, and establishing Neighborhood Watch programs are only a few of the steps some have taken.

June’s panel shared their experiences and emotions, identified individual and community support systems, and discussed their capacity to give back when facing enormous loss.

See their family’s stories.

July 14, 2021

The Consent Decree mandated that the Cleveland Division of Police integrate bias-free policing principles into its management, policies and procedures, job descriptions, recruitment, training, personnel evaluations, resource deployment, and accountability.

Officer training includes understanding the negative impact of racial or ethnic profiling, identifying personal bias, and ways to reduce the harmful impact of bias. Supervisors are also trained on how to identify bias when reviewing officer stops, arrests and use of force data.

The objective is to deliver police services equitably, respectfully and free of unlawful bias, and in a way that promotes broad community engagement and confidence in CDP, and without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Our July panelists reviewed what has been done to accomplish this objective and what work still remains to build trust within the community.

August 11, 2021

The Consent Decree mandated that the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) conduct all investigatory stops, searches, and arrests fairly and respectfully as part of an effective overall crime prevention strategy that takes into account community values. CDP will continue to limit vehicle pursuits to those in which the need to capture the suspect outweighs the danger to the public. CDP will also continue to limit the number of CDP vehicles that may be involved in a vehicle pursuit.

Our August conversation reviewed what has been done to accomplish this objective.

The Consent Decree mandates that the City of Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) will create formal and informal mechanisms that facilitate ongoing communication between the CDP and the many Cleveland communities it serves. The Cleveland Community Police Commission is
composed of 13 members that represent the many and diverse communities in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Community Police Commission makes recommendations to the Chief of Police and the City of Cleveland on policies and practices related to community and problem-oriented policing, bias-free policing, and police transparency.

Our September conversation reviewed what has been done to accomplish this objective and what work remains to build trust within the community. 

October 13, 2021

Police practices are often primarily in place to manage difficult interactions with adults and apply the same rules of force against children as they do for adults.

Few police departments in the country have clear policies on how police should interact with children, but Cleveland is among the first in the country to enact specific rules in this area. The Cleveland policy will require that officers consider factors like the perceived age, physical build, and emotional state of anyone under 18 before using force.

Policies focused on youth will support the community and problem oriented policing values set forth in the Consent Decree.

Read the questions from the community.

November 10, 2021

Our November conversation focused on the Consent Decree’s mandate that the City of Cleveland Division of Police maintain high-level service, ensure officer safety and accountability, and promote constitutional, effective policing, by reviewing and revising as necessary its recruitment and hiring program to ensure that it successfully attracts and hires a diverse group of qualified individuals.

Panelists reviewed what has been done to accomplish this objective and what work remains to build trust within the community.