police reform

Where does police reform currently stand in the state of Ohio?

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said new findings from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation show the city is "on the right track" when it comes to recommended police reforms, but much work still has to be done.

Although several state leaders proposed more accountability in Ohio’s law enforcement departments, those measures have not come through.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced details of a new proposal that would invest hundreds of millions of dollars into support for first responders.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice accepted Mayor Andrew Ginther's invitation to conduct a review of the Columbus Division of Police. But one local activist group doesn't think it's the right move.

Like many large police forces in the U.S., Columbus has seen a sharp increase in the number of officers choosing to leave the division. Local leaders point to pandemic fatigue and frayed community relations, after a year marked by an escalating cycle of protest and harsh police response. Those departures put an even bigger emphasis on recruiting efforts.

Protesters are scheduled to gather at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday afternoon to demand police accountability.

Democrats say their plan focuses on increasing accountability for police, addressing racial bias and building relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The police shooting of Black men — culminating with the death of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas — sparked days of civil unrest in Cincinnati in 2001. Protests, in some cases, turned destructive.

At the first meeting of Akron City Council’s Reimagining Public Safety Committee, Akron Police Chief Kenneth Ball made a brief appearance to get things rolling. “I would say that I’m thankful to be here, but I’m not. I’m frustrated,” Ball told members of council in September 2020.