City Accepts Recommendations from Civilian Review Board Work Group
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, along with City Council President
Shannon J. Hardin, accepted the recommendations from the Civilian Review Board
Work Group. The Work Group was charged with developing the framework for a
Civilian Police Review Board to provide oversight of the Columbus Division of
Police. In November, Columbus voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to
the city charter to establish a civilian police review board and Inspector
General for the Division of Police.
“Columbus is the only major metropolitan area without any
kind of civilian oversight of law enforcement, which continues to erode trust
between the community and police,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “With the
passage of Issue 2 in November and the recommendations from the Work Group, we
are well positioned to make it a reality in 2021.”
“Rebuilding trust and improving accountability in the
Division of Police is a critical component to reimagining safety in Columbus,”
said Council President Shannon G. Hardin. “Council appreciates the Civilian
Review Working Group for providing recommendations on structural questions for
how the Review Board should operate. Council will engage in a deliberative
process to review these recommendations and work with Mayor Ginther to stand up
the Civilian Review Board in 2021.”
The work group comprised of community members representing
diverse backgrounds, experiences, ages, races and skill sets worked for several
months to review best practices from other cities and to recommend what would
work best for Columbus. Their recommendations
include:
- A nine-member Civilian Review Board, with
staggered three-year terms
- Board appointments by Mayor Ginther in
consultation with Columbus City Council
- Board diversity in race, age, ethnicity and socioeconomic
status, and a majority of its members must live in the city of Columbus.
- Board will receive ongoing training in police
tactics, constitutional law, de-escalation, implicit bias, and other important
subject matters
- The Board should be given broad investigative
powers, including subpoena powers.
- The minimum qualifications for the new inspector
general will be set by the board.
Applications
for the Civilian Review Board are being accepted now through Jan. 15, 2021.