Ohio Pen - Columbus: Mayor Ginther Announces Appointments To Civilian Police Review Board

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Mayor Andrew J. Ginther today announced his appointments to the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB) which will provide civilian oversite of police for the first time in Columbus history. The Board will appoint the first Inspector General for the Division of Police who the city will support with professional staff to conduct independent investigations into police misconduct. The appointments will be advanced Columbus City Council for approval.

"In November, residents overwhelmingly approved the creation of a Civilian Police Review Board and Inspector General for the Division of Police," said Mayor Ginther. "The purpose of the board is to help restore trust between the community and police. For too long, the police have operated solely on their own with no opportunity for community oversite. This Board allows for independent investigations – and review of internal investigations – as well as recommendations for discipline and policy changes outside the chain of command."

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The city reviewed more than 200 applications for seats on the board and engaged community members to help conduct more than 20 in-depth interviews with finalists. The following nine individuals will be advanced to Council for appointment to the Civilian Police Review Board:

Mark Fluharty, Executive Director of Central Ohio Labor Council
Dr. Chenelle Jones, Assistant Dean/Chair of Public Safety Programs, Franklin University, member of Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission
Willard McIntosh, retired Columbus Division of Police officer
Pastor Rich Nathan, Vineyard Columbus
Kyle Strickland, attorney, The Ohio State University Roosevelt Institute
Randall Sistrunk, Director of Business Development, Orange Barrel Media, member of Chief's Advisory Panel
Rev. Charles Tatum, the Good Shepherd Baptist Church
Mary Younger, former Franklin County Public Defender
Janet Jackson, former city attorney and Franklin County municipal judge, chair of Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission

Mayor Ginther asked Jackson, former city attorney and Franklin County municipal judge, and chair of Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission, to serve as chair of the board. Chair Jackson will help establish the framework for how the Board will function and work with her fellow Board members to lead a search for Columbus' first Inspector General for the Division of Police.

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After more than 18 months of intensive review, the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission presented Mayor Ginther with a list of recommendations to improve community-police relations, including amending the Columbus City Charter to establish a civilian review board and an Inspector General for police. Last year, Mayor Ginther advanced Issue 2 to amend the Charter, and Columbus voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the Civilian Police Review Board and Inspector General.

"The overarching goal of the Board is to help restore trust in police by providing transparent investigations and holding officers who have done wrong accountable," said Jackson. "Resident votes in favor of the Board last November spoke volumes. And we -- just like the Division of Police -- are here to serve them."

Filed Under: Government, City

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