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Division of Police

Police Oversight & Accountability

Contact Info

phone

(216) 623-5000

Police Oversight & Accountability

Cleveland has many layers of police oversight that operate both internally and externally to ensure fairness and accountability is upheld. There are various systems of oversight including federal departments, courts, administrative teams, units and independent boards and commissions.

Consent Decree

The Cleveland Division of Police (CDP) has been under a Consent Decree since 2015. Following a 21-month long investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) determined that there was reasonable cause to believe that the CDP engaged in excessive use of force. The DOJ concluded that the alleged pattern and practice of excessive force was related to structural and operational issues within the Division, and potentially violated the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

The City of Cleveland and DOJ entered into the Consent Decree to repair community trust and protect the constitutional rights of the people of Cleveland by identifying problems within the CDP and by creating and implementing policies and practices to correct these problems. The Consent Decree identifies multiple problem areas for which the CDP is required to make policy changes, implement new training, or restructure Division practices. These areas include: (1) Community Engagement, (2) Community and Problem-Oriented Policing, (3) Bias-Free Policing, (4) Use of Force, (5) Crisis Intervention, (6) Search & Seizure, (7) Accountability, Transparency, & Oversight, and (8) Officer Assistance, Support, and Supervision.

Amended Consent Decree

The Monitoring Team

The Monitoring Team is appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to oversee and evaluate the City of Cleveland’s compliance with the Consent Decree. On April 12, 2023, Judge Oliver ordered the appointment of Karl Racine as Lead Monitor and Hogan Lovells LLP as the Monitoring Team. They meet regularly with members of the CDP, U.S. Department of Justice, and City law department to oversee changes in policies and training, deliver technical assistance, and provide updates to the parties on compliance. Semi-annual reports are released by the Monitoring Team documenting the City’s compliance with the Consent Decree.

Monitor Reports:

Response to Monitor Reports:

Police Accountability Team

The Police Accountability Team (PAT) supports the Cleveland Division of Police in achieving compliance with the consent decree issued by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2015. Responsibilities include policy review, updates, and audits, in addition to making recommendations on best practices in an effort to accelerate reform across the Division.

In order to establish greater trust within the community and protect constitutional rights, newly implemented policies and practices will focus on the following eight (8) areas: 

  1. Community engagement
  2. Community and problem-oriented policing
  3. Bias-free policing
  4. Use of force
  5. Crisis intervention
  6. Search & seizure
  7. Accountability, transparency & oversight
  8. Officer assistance, support, and supervision

Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

Appointed by the Mayor, the Public Safety Inspector General reports directly to the Chief Director of Public Safety.

The OIG assists the Division with the following tasks:

  • Reviewing Division policies and practices for compliance with all relevant standards and to determine whether each promotes both officer and public safety.
  • Performing policy compliance audits.
  • Investigating and analyzing trends, including making recommendations for reform concerning Division policies, procedures, practices, training, and equipment to improve service and accountability.
  • Analyzing the investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Standards.
  • Analyzing and assessing disciplinary trends within the Division.

Reports and recommendations for reform are made public.

Persons wishing to file a complaint regarding a member of the Division should consult this page: Complaint Process.

Staff:

  • Inspector General
  • Deputy Inspector General / Senior Policy Analyst
  • Executive Assistant / Paralegal

OIG Publications

Internal Affairs

The Department of Public Safety’s Internal Affairs Unit reviews and investigates complaints of criminal conduct by the Cleveland Division of Police employees and refers to the appropriate law enforcement entity including the Prosecutor’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigations or U.S. Department of Justice. 


Office of Professional Standards

Announcements:

The Office of Professional Standards receives and investigates non-criminal complaints of police misconduct from the public and reports its findings to the Civilian Police Review Board.  OPS is an independent agency within the City of Cleveland composed of civilian employees only.

OPS is also empowered to make findings and recommend action to the Civilian Police Review Board (“CPRB”) regarding those complaints. 

The mission of OPS to increase accountability and improve public confidence in the police by receiving and fairly, thoroughly, objectively, and timely investigating and resolving misconduct complaints against Cleveland Division of Police employees.

As part of its mission, OPS is also empowered to make policy recommendations that will improve the citizen complaint process, increase understanding between the public and CDP employees, reduce the incidence of misconduct and reduce the risk of the use of force by CDP officers. 

OPS is committed to providing the community with an accessible and safe environment in which to file complaints and have their complaints heard.

File A Complaint Reportar Querella del Ciudadano

Any person wishing to file a complaint against a member of the Cleveland Division of Police can do so by using one of the options below:

  • Complete and Submit the complaint form online
  • Download the complaint form (PDF), complete it, and send it to OPS through: a) email at CLEPoliceComplaints@clevelandohio.gov, b) fax at (216) 420-8764, or c) US mail at 205 West St. Clair Ave., Suite 301, Cleveland, Ohio 44113
  • By Phone at (216) 664-2944 (an OPS investigator will assist you in filling a complaint over the phone) 
  • In-Person at the Office of Professional Standards, 205 W. St. Clair Ave., Suite 301, Cleveland, OH 44113
  • You can also find complaint forms to complete at the Cleveland Division of Police Headquarters, all five Cleveland Division of Police District Stations, as well as Cleveland City Hall (601 Lakeside Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114).


Civilian Police Review Board

The Civilian Police Review Board is a nine-member board that oversees the Office of Professional Standards and can conduct hearings, subpoena evidence and recommend discipline or policy changes.

Civilian Police Review Board Hearings

The Citizen Police Review Board (CPRB) holds monthly hearings. The public is welcome to attend the hearings.    
Complainants are notified in advance when their complaint is scheduled to be reviewed by the CPRB.

Date: September 10, 2024
Time: 9:00 a.m.    
Location: Cleveland City Hall, 601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 514.  Or click the YouTube link below to access the meeting online:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjvji5gYnraY74Emrj6N5wg 
 

Agendas: 

Minutes: 


Community Police Commission 

The Community Police Commission was established in 2022 following the passage of Issue 24 to serve as the final authority on police discipline, policies, training, and procedures.  The 13-member commission is permanent and independent. Charter Section 115-5 outlines their powers and duties.