Mayor Ginther, Chief Quinlan, City Attorney Klein and Council President Hardin Announce Chief’s Advisory Panel and Strict Limits on Use of Tear Gas, Pepper Spray
[Columbus, OH] Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, Police Chief Thomas
Quinlan, City Attorney Zach Klein and City Council President Shannon G. Hardin today
announced the Chief’s Advisory Panel. The advisory panel is designed to allow
community stakeholders to have a meaningful way to provide input into
strategies, development of community policing practices, and increasing
community transparency into police operations.
“Community leaders, like those on this advisory panel, keep
public officials accountable,” said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “That
accountability and transparency is critical not just for Council, but for all
officials who serve the people of our city. This advisory group has an
important role to help reform public safety through new institutions and
practices such as a civilian review board, independent investigations, and much
more.”
“This is not just a commission or committee that will sit idly
by,” said Mayor Ginther. “The Chief’s panel will weigh in and provide feedback
on changes we are making – such as significantly limiting the use of tear gas
and pepper spray by the Columbus Division of Police.”
A panel of 14 members was selected by Mayor Ginther and Columbus
City Council:
- Aba
Azeem, Vice Chair of the Create Columbus Commission
- Lourdes
Barosso de Padilla, Director of the Latina Mentoring Academy
- Love
Benton, Vice Chair, Black, Out and Proud
- James
Burke IV, President Columbus National Pan Hellenic Council
- LaShaun
Carter, Chief Diversity Officer at Franklin County Children Services and
Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commissioner
- Stefanie
Coe, Commissioner, Civil Service Commission
- Yaves
Ellis, Pastor and Director of Community Affairs at Urban 1
- Tammy
Fournier, Founder and Organizing Director, Peoples Justice Project and
Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commissioner
- Florence
Latham, Human Resources Consultant and Executive Coach
- Kristy
McCray, Associate Professor, Otterbein University
- Diane
Menashe, partner at Ice Miller
- Andrew
B. Pierce II, Undergraduate Student, John Glenn College of Public Affairs,
The Ohio State University
- Randall
Sistrunk, Director of Development, Orange Barrel Media
- Erin
Upchurch, Executive Director, Kaleidoscope Youth Center
“The panel will act as a sounding board for me regarding
community needs, concerns, and expectations, as well as provide community feedback
to current and proposed police programs and priorities,” said Chief Quinlan.
Mayor Ginther also issued the directive prohibiting the use of
tear gas and pepper spray to clear streets and disperse peaceful protests
today, and additional policy changes in how chemical agents are used will be
drafted in consultation with the City Attorney to assure clear, consistent
guidance to police.
“This new
policy will stop unnecessary confrontations between police officers and
peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights,” said City
Attorney Zach Klein. “This important change reflects our City’s and my own
personal commitment to meaningful reforms and balances public safety and
protected speech.”
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