Unlikely allies Obama, Kasich mutually push for police reform

On most contentious ISSUES OF the day, Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich make strange bedfellows. Yet on one king-size and timely social issue, this odd couple of chief executives share a common commitment and similar strategies toward improving police-community relations in localities across the state and throughout the nation.

In the wake of a series of high-profile police killings in Ferguson, Mo., New York City, Cleveland and Beavercreek, Ohio, among many others this year, Obama and Kasich have stepped up to the plate in recent days to work toward lessening tensions among minority communities and law enforcers. They’ve done so with thoughtful, concrete and proactive initiatives that deserve support and a chance to succeed.

Earlier this month, Obama unveiled a $263 million initiative targeted squarely at bettering police-community engagement. The action plan is designed to increase use of body-worn cameras, expand training for law enforcement agencies, add more resources for police department reforms, encourage successful community policing philosophies, and multiply the number of cities where the federal Department of Justice involves itself directly in police-community relations.

DOJ did just that in Warren two years ago, and it resulted in structural reforms in the city’s police department, including concrete protocols on use of force and more rigid training on constitutional policing.

As part of the president’s initiative, a new Body Worn Camera Partnership Program would provide a 50 percent match to states and communities that purchase body cams for law enforcers.

TASK FORCE IN OHIO

Four days after Obama announced that program in Washington, Kasich and state legislative leaders unveiled a similar-themed initiative of their own in Columbus. The governor announced creation of a state task force on improving police-community interactions.

Its membership will be drawn from state offices and from community leaders across Ohio with representation from such diverse groups as law enforcement, legislative, religious and civic leaders.

Kasich said the task force will work to find ways to heal Ohio communities “fractured” by distrust of their police forces as “an honest effort to listen to the frustrations.”

In concert with Kasich’s announcement, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is forming a task force at the Ohio Peace Training Officer Commission that will work to beef up police training in community relations.

“Citizens of the state of Ohio have the right to expect that police officers are correctly trained and vetted before they are put out on the street,” DeWine said in announcing the project.

A centerpiece of these state and federal programs focuses on community policing techniques that have been proven effective in improving attitudes and deterring crime.

Fortunately for Youngstown, Police Chief Robin Lees is a staunch advocate of community policing philosophies. Lees’ community policing plan places at least one officer in each city ward to work closely with neighborhood groups and individuals to identify and rectify such quality-of-life issues as speeding problems, neighborhood nuisances, zoning violations and low-level criminal activity before frustrations from them have an opportunity to trigger major crimes.

Clearly, the task of local, state and federal governments in improving police relations and lessening community tensions will not be accomplished quickly or easily. But we’re pleased by the initiatives of our nation’s president and our state’s governor in recognizing the urgency to begin serious movement in those directions now.