CLEVELAND, Ohio – A settlement between Cleveland city officials and the federal government over the city’s police force was not enough to stave off planned protests over the not guilty verdict of a white police officer in the shooting of two unarmed black motorists.
The city of Cleveland agreed to overhaul its police department under the supervision of a federal monitor in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over a pattern of excessive force and other abuses
“Our goal is to have real reform…that will be sustainable. This agreement is a major step in getting us to that point,” said Mayor Frank Jackson (pictured above, left) when he announced the settlement with Vanita Gupta (center, at podium), head of civil rights division at the Department of Justice, and U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach (right).
The settlement was announced Tuesday and comes three days after patrolman Michael Brelo was acquitted of voluntary manslaughter charges in the shooting deaths of two unarmed black suspects in a 137-shot barrage of police gunfire. The case helped prompt an 18-month investigation by the Justice Department.
The findings released in December required the city to work with community leaders and other officials to devise a plan to reform the police department.
Officials say the settlement calls for new use-of-force guidelines, a focus on community engagement, accountability reforms, training on bias-free policing and a mental health advisory committee.
Some of those who called for the investigation said the settlement was a good start.
“This is a step forward, but this is truly only the beginning. To change the culture of the police force, which has been engaged in unfair and unjust treatment of people of color for so long, will not happen overnight,” said Christine Link, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.
Dozens of parishioners from approximately 40 churches making up the Greater Cleveland Congregations marched Tuesday afternoon, chanting “we want justice, we want it now,” and “we can’t wait.” A diverse group of clergy members linked arms to lead the peaceful march.
They said they delivered a letter to the offices of the mayor and county prosecutor calling for a comprehensive plan of criminal justice reform.