Police reform
Congressional Black Caucus meets with Biden to push for police accountability
WASHINGTON — The Congressional Black Caucus met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris last week to urge the administration to use its executive power for law enforcement reform, following criminal charges for police officers in the killing of a Black man in Memphis, Tennessee. “My hope is this dark memory spurs some […]
Akron organizers turn to the ballot box for civilian oversight of police
The Akron NAACP and other local organizers are leading the push for a city charter amendment establishing civilian oversight for the police department. The ballot measure comes on the heels of the police killing of Jayland Walker, a Black man shot nearly 50 times by Akron officers after fleeing a traffic stop. Walker was unarmed […]
Police hiring database measure gets hearing
More than a year after its introduction, a measure establishing a statewide database for police officer hiring got its first committee hearing. Still, the proposal may be a longshot in the GOP-controlled House. For years, reformers have called for such a database. They invoke officers like Timothy Loehmann, who shot and killed Tamir Rice in […]
Columbus prepares to select inspector general to handle police misconduct investigations
The city of Columbus is nearing a decision on a new inspector general, tasked with leading a new office investigating police misconduct and answering to the city’s civilian review board. The four finalists participated in a virtual interview of sorts last week. Pamela Davis is the former chief investigator with Detroit’s civilian oversight agency; Jacqueline […]
Dayton incident with paraplegic man shines light on state, local police reform efforts
During a traffic stop, late last month, Dayton police officers pulled Clifford Owensby from his car by the hair. Owensby, who is paraplegic, repeatedly told the officers he could not get out of the car, that he wanted them to call a supervisor, that they could hurt him by pulling him from the vehicle. They […]
GOP state senator urges support of police, opposes defunding
A Republican legislator wants the legislature to stand up for police budgets, while also condemning excessive force done by “the slimmest margins” of police officers around the state. In a resolution offered recently, state Sen. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, writes the “just and unbiased enforcement of the rule of law and the protection of the […]
Spate of police reform bills drop in Ohio legislature
As protests continue around the state asking for changes to policing, several police reform bills will be waiting for the state legislature to return from its summer break. Some legislators have argued that the House should come back in session to address health and economy issues, along with police issues and a racism bill that […]
Catching Our Eye: Black history, Black trans pride, and COVID-19 epicenters
Black history. The Sandusky Register’s Caitlin Nearhood is reporting, “Black history not properly taught to Ohio students.” “Important parts of American history appear to be whitewashed in Ohio’s current history curriculum. “In recent weeks, events like Juneteenth, the Tulsa Massacre and Black Wall Street have gained notoriety amid racial injustice protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. […]
3 Republicans join House Democrats in passing sweeping police reform
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House passed a sweeping police reform package Thursday night in response to massive civil unrest over police brutality. The package cleared the chamber largely along partisan lines, with 236 lawmakers (mostly Democrats) voting for it and 181 lawmakers (180 Republicans and one Independent) voting against it. Three Republicans sided with Democrats […]
Democrats block GOP’S ‘weak’ police reform bill
WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats blocked a GOP police reform bill Wednesday because they said it fails to adequately respond to police brutality against people of color. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sought to clear a procedural hurdle Wednesday so he could bring the bill to the floor for Senate consideration. But the legislation fell […]