Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission Releases Report
The Columbus
Community Safety Advisory Commission released its report to Mayor Andrew J.
Ginther today at Beatty Community Center in the Near East Side.
The Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission was formed
in 2018 as part of the Comprehensive Neighborhood Safety Strategy. The
Commission, composed of 17 members, has spent the last 18 months identifying,
reviewing and recommending best practices to ensure the Columbus Division of
Police has the best training, policies and procedures to protect and serve our
entire community.
“When I selected this group in 2018, I purposely selected
people who were diverse in every way. The Commission included community leaders
and safety officers, pastors and social service professionals, academics and
activists. I am grateful for every one for lending their voice and their
perspectives to this process,” said Mayor Ginther. “It is clear that to create
trust and meet the expectations of our residents, we need change.”
The report includes 80 recommendations covering topics of
recruitment, training, diversity and inclusion, community engagement and
independent investigations.
“These recommendations are wide-ranging, but they reflect
great depth of thought and a sincere desire to provide you and the Division of
Police guidance on how to best address some of the greatest challenges facing
the Division and our community today,” said Janet E. Jackson who served as the
chair.
Chief Quinlan has already begun to address some of the
recommendations, including:
- Removing leave forfeiture as an option for
sustained finding of discrimination and or bias.
- Seeking opportunities to involve more community
members into recruit training to improve cultural competency.
- Developing more insightful public community
surveys of experiences with police interactions.
- Encouraging mentoring of police officers to
build diversity through the ranks.
- Implementing a Police Initiated Diversion
Program for juveniles arrested for criminal activity.
- Considering ways to implement the hijab into
uniform standards.
Chief Quinlan Chief expects his bureau commanders and
managers to address all of the Matrix and Commission recommendations in their
bureau presentations, including realistic cost projections.
Mayor Ginther committed to continuing the Safety Commission
in some form to assure accountability and transparency. He also said he will
explore a version of a civilian review board that works best for Columbus.
The Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission Report can
be read here.