Cleveland consent decree could end after 11 years
After 11 years, Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice are seeking to end the city's police consent decree, which has been in place since 2015, following a federal investigation that found widespread unconstitutional policing, including use of excessive force.
Mayor Justin Bibb said in a press conference Thursday, "In no way are we declaring mission accomplished," but he and the federal government agree that Cleveland has made the necessary reforms and said its time to take back local control of reforming the department.
In 2021, voters overwhelmingly approved shifting control of police discipline and policies into civilian hands, which restructured and strengthened the 13-member Community Police Commission that was created as part of the consent decree.
But some community members, including those who led the charge for more civilian police oversight in 2021, have spoken out against ending the consent decree, pointing to the fact that residents weren't consulted in the decision.
LaTonya Goldsby, president of Citizens for a Safer Cleveland and Cleveland's Black Lives Matter chapter, told 精东影业's reporter Abbey Marshall that progress in police reform is not being felt in the community.
U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., who oversees the decree, will need to approve or deny any termination request.
On Tuesday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll hear from city and police leadership, as well as a community member who is against the ending of the consent decree.
Guests:
- Annie Todd, Chief of Police, City of Cleveland
- Dr. Leigh Anderson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Police Accountability Team, City of Cleveland
- Sharena Zayed, Member, Cleveland Community Police Commission
- Matt Richmond, Criminal Justice Reporter, 精东影业
Book explores history of Tuskegee Airmen
More than 1 million Black Americans served in the U.S. military during World War II, despite the armed forces not being desegregated until several years after the conflict ended.
Among those servicemembers were the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American military aviators in the history of the armed forces.
They were renowned for their combat skills, but still faced terrible racial discrimination while serving their country.
A new book looks at the lives and legacy of 27 of those airmen who were lost in battle, and how their friends and families were left with questions once the war was over.
Guest:
- Cheryl W. Thompson, NPR Investigative Correspondent, Author, "Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen"
