Five Important Facts About Issue 24 That You Should Know
by James C.
In the wake of dozens of protests and riots, over countless police shootings of unarmed African Americans. A rising question on the minds of the entire international community has been is tangible police reform possible in the United States? An answer centuries in the making has recently been passed through the police reform bill Issue 24. Issue 24 is one of the most influential and controversial police reform bills passed in the wake of the 2020 George Floyd protest and “Defund The Police” movement that erupted across the nation and worldwide. With the recent passing of the bill, this past November election right alongside the conclusion of the mayoral race has placed the city of Cleveland on a national spotlight for what real and tangible police reform looks like.
Issue 24 revolutionizes the entire notion of “Community Policing '' and is uncompromising in its effort to bring long-awaited change to the Cleveland Division of Police.
Here are five important facts you need to know about Issue 24.
1. The Creation of A Civilian Review Board and Community Police Commission
● A 13 member civilian review board that is handpicked by the mayor and city council consisting of attorneys, community leaders, civil rights activists, law enforcement, and victims of police brutality. This review board will oversee the implementation of new police policies and disciplinary actions against police officers. The review board also takes power out of the hands of the police unions who have for years failed to apply the correct disciplinary action(if any). Instead, it puts that power into the hands of people from the city of Cleveland.
2. Changes The Structure Of The Police Department
● Issue 24 will make it a mandate that The Cleveland Police Department reflects the demographics of the city of Cleveland. That means hiring more officers of color and women to the police force that has historically been white males.
● Pairing social workers and mental health experts with first responders to respond to nonviolent mental health-related 911 calls.
● A mass redeployment of police officers to under-policed districts throughout the city.
● Makes having a direct connection and consistent interaction with the greater Cleveland community a criteria for becoming Cleveland police chief
3. Seeks To Achieve Lower Crime Rates and Rebuild Community-Police Relations At The Same Time.
Issue 24 places power on police oversight and how to deal with police misconduct directly into the hands of the residents of the city of Cleveland. Community grassroots organizations and leaders will have a direct line to the mayor's office, Cleveland City Council and the Chief of police.
The police gang unit and the vice squad will be paired together in order to ensure a more data-driven police department to fight the worst of violent crimes.
● 70% of all Cleveland Police officers will “walk the beat” or be deployed for regular community patrol.
● Issue 24 demands that Cleveland police officers be present for job fairs, school events and other community events in order to have better interactions with the police department and the local community.
4. Issue 24 Seeks To Mend Some of the Damages That Caused The May 2020 Riots and Protests.
During last year’s protest over the death of George Floyd, many protests took place all over the world and in every major city in America including Cleveland. Over the course of the protest, body cam footage emerged showing Cleveland police officers breaking department policy, beating residents, and violating citizens' constitutional rights.
Many of the protestors and community leaders all throughout the city called for immediate police reform. Police unions, the chief of police and city officials ignored many of these calls for reform and were continuously complacent in the unlawful act of many Cleveland police officers.
5. Issue 24 Builds On The Police Reform Bill Of 2015 That Followed The Police Shooting Of Tamir Rice.
● In 2015 While under federal oversight The Cleveland Police Department was found to have massive amounts of corruption and rampant misconduct. The Department of Justice passed a police reform bill in 2015 that forced The Cleveland Police Department to have each officer file paperwork every time they discharged their weapon when responding to a call.
● Body Cams were mandated to every Cleveland police officer.
● Community-based policing and mental health responders were to be assigned to the department.
Issue 24 takes the 2015 reform bill and seeks to finally force the Cleveland Police Department to conform to all of the mandates from the 2015 bill. The passing of Issue 24 puts the city of Cleveland in the spotlight for police reform and accountability.