COLUMBUS – Police reform actions are being take at the local, state and federal level following weeks of wrenching global protests over racism and the deaths of black men and women at the hands of law enforcement officers.
The city of Columbus has prohibited police use of tear gas and limited use of pepper spray to clear streets and disperse peaceful demonstrators following weeks of global protests over the death of George Floyd. Mayor Andrew Ginther’s introduction of the new policy comes as police departments across the country grapple with criticism of tactics used against people protesting the death of George Floyd.
Additional policy changes on the use of chemical agents will be drafted in consultation with the Klein’s office to provide consistent guidance to officers, Ginther said.
Ginther, police Chief Thomas Quinlan, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein and City Council president Shannon Hardin also announced the formation of the Chief’s Advisory Panel to provide input into the development of community policing practices and increasing community transparency into police operations.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost will announce new efforts toward law enforcement reform at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.
In his words, DeWine believes defunding the police, which has been called for by some activists, is “absurd” but he thinks there should be changes to training, recruitment, transparency and other aspects of policing, including use of force and he says there should be a discussion about how to reallocate public funds to address issues like mental health and addiction.
“It’s important to have a central standard, a good standard of when use of force should be utilized, but it’s also important to figure out how the people that the police are dealing with many times, who have other challenges, other problems, that they’re getting the assistance that they need,” he said.
President Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order on policing but in his remarks he made no mention of the roiling national debate over racism spawned by police killings of black men and women.
Trump’s order is aimed at encouraging best practices and tracking officers with excessive use-of-force complaints. He said he wants nothing to do with demands to “defund the police.”