Statement from Council President Shannon G. Hardin Regarding FOP Attacks on Citizens Working to Advance Reform
[COLUMBUS, OH] The following statement can be attributed in full, or in part, to Columbus City Council President Shannon G. Hardin:
“I fully support Diane Menashe and Frederick Benton as members of Chief Quinlan’s advisory group and to help plan a civilian review board because they are tested criminal justice experts.
“They were not appointed to appease the FOP, but to advance reforms of a deeply flawed system. American criminal justice is built on a central idea that all accused deserve legal representation before impartial courts. We support these attorneys because they worked on the toughest capital cases and will not be intimidated. The FOP should help advance reform and acknowledge their own past failings, yet they instead continue their campaign to tear down citizen volunteers and stonewall progress.”
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