Warren police should revel in evaluation by US Justice Dept.
It has been 12 years since the city of Warren Police Department came to the attention of the U.S. Justice Department after residents accused some officers of harassment. Illegal strips searches and excessive force were on the list of unlawful acts that prompted the federal government to launch a formal investigation.
Over the years, the city had been praised and criticized by Justice officials and residents for the way it has responded to the probe and the public, and in 2012, city officials signed a consent decree with the federal government that listed 47 areas that needed to be corrected before the police department could be given a clean bill of health.
Last week, the Justice Department sent a letter to Warren that should make Mayor Doug Franklin, police Chief Eric Merkel and the community at large feel good — or, at least, feel a sense of relief. That’s because the feds say the police department “made significant progress” last year in addressing the 47 deficiencies spelled out in the consent decree.
“We appreciate the collaboration and accommodating spirit evinced by the city and police department leaders, administrators, staff members and officers,” the letter stated.
And while the evaluation of the progress being made is performed on an objective basis, there is a standard that can be used to determine if the police department is, in fact, changing its past unconstitutional ways.
Consider the following: In 2010, there were 59 citizen complaints filed against the department. In 2012, the number fell to 35. In 2013, there were 29 complaints. And last year, as the Justice Department was seeing a real change in attitude on the part of police officers, the number of complaints dropped to 24.
According to the Justice Department, the city of Warren is in “substantial compliance” in 29 of the 47 areas of concern, and in “partial compliance” in the other 18.
Police Chief Merkel, who is deserving of the community’s appreciation and support, says that his department will be in substantial compliance on all 47 area by January 2016.
Twelve years ago, in the midst of the dark days of law enforcement in the city, Merkel’s pledge would have rung hollow and would have been seen as nothing more than bureaucratic bluster. Today, however, in light of the Justice Department’s positive evaluation, residents have reason to be optimistic.
Use-of-force reports
But even if there is total compliance with the consent decree, the city of Warren will still have to submit use-of-force reports and other data to officials in Washington for two more years before it would be released from the federal government’s grip.
In light of the fact that police departments around the country are under the microscope because of the shootings by officers in Ferguson, Mo., and Cleveland and the death of a street vendor in New York City during an arrest, the Warren Police Department should welcome the Justice Department’s oversight.
It has been clear for some time that a change in the culture of law enforcement is needed, which will occur with a clean slate.
Indeed, Gov. John Kasich’s Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations, which had its first meeting recently, should find the Justice Department’s investigation and findings beneficial as it goes about its important work.
Bishop George V. Murry of the Youngstown Diocese, which includes Warren, is on the governor’s task force.
The bishop’s familiarity with this area and with challenges facing the two major cities, Warren and Youngstown, should provide important insight as to how the police and residents can build the trust that is so important in the fight against crime.