The Division of Police, Community Police Commission, and Monitoring Team will be engaged in sustained and intensive community engagement throughout the reform process – all aimed at ensuring that all voices are heard as a new, shared vision of policing in Cleveland is established.

The Consent Decree requires a sustained focus on ensuring that law enforcement in Cleveland embraces a community and problem-oriented policing model. Among other things, this includes: 

CREATION OF A COMMUNITY POLICE COMMISSION

The Decree created the Cleveland Community Police Commission (CCPC) to serve as a primary conduit between the Cleveland community and the process of reform.  It is responsible for making recommendations to the Division with respect to policies and procedures; working with the community to develop recommendations on police practices that reflect the values and priorities of the Cleveland community; and reporting to the community in order to provide transparency in the process of police reform.

DEVELOPMENT OF DISTRICT POLICING COMMITTEES

The District Policing Committees, formerly called District Community Relations Committees, were created by the Decree to facilitate regular communication and cooperation between CPD and community leaders at the local, District, and neighborhood-based level.

development of a new mission statement

CPD will ensure that its mission statement reflects its commitment to community oriented policing and will integrate community and problem-oriented policing principles into its management, policies and procedures, recruitment, training, personnel evaluations, resource deployment, tactics, and accountability systems.

creation of new bias-free policing policies

CPD will deliver police services with the goal of ensuring that they are equitable, respectful, and free of unlawful bias, in a manner that promotes broad community engagement and confidence in CPD. CPD expects all officers to treat all members of the Cleveland community with courtesy, professionalism, and respect, and not to use harassing, intimidating, or derogatory language. CPD must integrate bias-free policing principles into its management, policies and procedures, job descriptions, recruitment, training, personnel evaluations, resource deployment, tactics, and accountability systems. 

reforms to the police review board

The Police Review Board (PRB), which recommends adjudications for investigations of civilian complaints, will be appointed in a transparent manner and be representative of the diverse communities within Cleveland.