Columbus police facing multiple civil-rights lawsuits

COLUMBUS (AP) — Almost 20 years after the government sued Ohio’s largest city alleging police routinely violated residents’ civil rights, Columbus is facing more than two dozen complaints raising similar concerns, records show.

Documents also indicate the city has paid more than $4 million to individuals who alleged civil-rights violations over the past decade.

Recent police shootings have alarmed local clergy and activists, who want the city to train more officers on how to de-escalate potentially violent situations with people having mental health crises.

They also want more police training for dealing with people with mental illness, and to have officers trained to recognize racial bias.

“We’re just asking for justice,” said Pastor Jason Ridley of the Hilltop Community Worship Center. “We’re just asking for the simple reality that I can leave my house and not fear.”

That includes police acknowledging that sometimes they make mistakes, said Ridley, who is black.

Democratic Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther will address current community and police relations and the city’s high homicide rate at a news conference today, said spokeswoman Robin Davis.

With 109 killings to date, Columbus could be on track to exceed its previous record of 139.

Columbus has largely been spared the unrest seen elsewhere after police shootings of blacks, but the department is under increased scrutiny after a series of fatal encounters.

Those include last year’s shooting of 13-year-old Tyre King as officers responded to reports of an armed robbery. Police said the boy pulled what looked like a real gun, but was later determined to be a BB gun from his waistband during a confrontation with officers.