FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Mary Trupo
Director of Communications
publicrelations@clvhts.com
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES CERTIFICATION FROM STATE OF OHIO FOR IMPROVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH, 4/05/2018 - Cleveland Heights is proud to once again receive recognition for its ongoing efforts to improve the relationship between the Cleveland Heights Police Department and our community.
Governor Kasich signed executive order 2015-04k on April 29, 2015 that created the Ohio Collaborative Community Police Advisory Board (Collaborative). The Collaborative is a multidiscipline group consisting of a diverse group of Ohioans including law enforcement, community members, elected officials, academia and faith-based community. The Collaborative was created after the Governor’s Task Force on Community Police Relations completed its work and produced a report with recommendations on how to improve the important relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
The executive order charged the Collaborative with creating uniformed minimum standards for all law enforcement to meet. The first standards adopted by the Collaborative were use of force, including deadly force, and hiring and recruitment. To achieve certification, CHPD revised its use of force to include a review by supervisors and the Chief of Police of all incidents involving use of force by officers. In addition, a new policy outlining our directives for recruitment and hiring was adopted. It was determined that CHPD’s efforts demonstrated their dedication and understanding of the Ohio Collaborative standards, which resulted in being awarded Certification.
To obtain full compliance in 2018, CHPD had to meet three standards adopted by the Collaborative: community; body worn cameras; and telecommunicator training. To once again achieve certification, the CHPD revised its body worn camera policy to meet the requirements of the Collaborative and implemented a new community engagement policy. Some of the strategies addressed in the CHPD’s policy include youth programs; educating the community on police policy and procedures; understanding the community the Department serves; sharing, receiving and providing information to the public; and communicating significant changes in agency operations. For the third standard, Telecommunications Training, CHPD was granted a waiver since the dispatch center has regionalized with our communities.
Based on the documentation submitted, CHPD achieved Provisional Certification. The Provisional Certification is designed to serve as a reminder of Cleveland Heights’ commitment to law enforcement and the community it serves.
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