City Engages Independent Investigator, Law firm to Investigate Police Response to Protests
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced the hiring of two
independent entities to handle investigations into Columbus Division of Police
responses to recent protests. The independent law firm BakerHostetler will
handle investigations that are flagged for administrative review. A
professional investigator and retired FBI agent will investigate incidents for
potential criminal charges.
“I have seen images and videos over the last several weeks
that disturb me – including the pepper spraying of non-violent activists, media
and elected officials,” said Mayor Ginther. “Our Department of Public Safety
have been reviewing hundreds of complaints, and it is now time to send them for
independent evaluation.”
On June 1, Mayor Ginther set up that an email hotline
outside of CPD chain of command for people to send complaints, video and
photographs. The Department of Public Safety and a member of the faith
community continue to review the complaints.
To date, approximately 40 incidents will be turned over to
BakerHostetler and 16 incidents to the investigator. Many incidents from the
hotline are still under initial investigation by Public Safety, and there are
additional complaints that have come in to the Internal Affairs Bureau of CPD
that are also still being reviewed. It is likely that more will be forwarded
the independent investigators.
In addition, the Mayor seated a workgroup to structure a
civilian review board, a recommendation from the Columbus Community Safety
Advisory Commission.
“In creating this workgroup, I selected subject matter
experts and key community stakeholders who will help guide important decisions
including how the board will be seated, how it will operate and what powers
will be afforded to the board.”
Mayor Ginther also stressed that the board must have
subpoena and investigative powers.
The workgroup includes:
- Jasmine Ayres, community organizer, Peoples
Justice Project
- Fred Benton, attorney
- Bo Chilton, President and CEO, Impact Community
Action
- Dr. Lewis Dodley, IMPACT Community Action
- Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO of
Columbus Urban League
- Pastor Frederick LaMarr, President, Baptist
Pastors Conference
- Kent Markus, General/Bar Counsel, Columbus Bar
Association
- Jonathan McCombs, Dean of College of Health and
Public Administration, Franklin University
- Ismail Mohammad, attorney, Ismail Law Office
- Densil R. Porteous, Chair, Create Columbus
- Aslyne Rodriguez, Director of Government
Affairs, COTA
- Janay Stevens, President, John Mercer Langston
Bar Association, Associate, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP
- Kyle Strickland, Senior Legal Analyst, Kirwin
Institute
- Erin Synk, Director of Government Relations, LNE
Group
- Nana Watson, President, NAACP Columbus
- Anthony Wilson, Vice President National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement - Columbus Chapter