The ACLU of Ohio today announced the members of an advisory panel created to assist the civil liberties organization implement the police reform agreement in Cincinnati. Chosen after extensive discussions among class counsel with community leaders, the panel represents a broad cross spectrum of the Cincinnati community. It includes business, civic, non-profit, and religious leaders; seasoned activists, a former institutional reform litigant, and youth.
In a related move, the ACLU also named its three members to the Community Police Partnering Center Board. The Board will oversee and coordinate the implementation of Community Problem Oriented policing required by the police reform agreement between the ACLU and the City of Cincinnati.
The ACLU and Cincinnati Black United Front filed a class action lawsuit against the city of Cincinnati in 2001 challenging a three decade pattern of race-biased policing against African-Americans. The parties entered into a court-supervised agreement in April 2002 incorporating a related agreement between the city and the U.S. Department of Justice mandating significant reforms.
A description of the panel’s role and membership can be seen here.
