Special Meeting: Full Commission Meeting

Cleveland Community Police Commission (CPC)

Criminal Justice

Monday, April 15, 2024
6:00 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. EDT

3631 Perkins Avenue Cleveland, OH 44144 (Directions)

Community Police Commission office, 4th floor (or watch on YouTube)

Note: This special meeting is to finish the agenda from the March 27 meeting. Find Documenters coverage of that meeting here.

Here is the agenda: https://clecpc.org/wp-content/uploads/Special-Full-Commission-Meeting-Agenda-4_15_24FINAL-1.pdf

The Cleveland Community Police Commission (CPC) was established in 2015 as part of the terms of the Consent Decree between the City of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Following an investigation, the DOJ determined there was a pattern of excessive force used by the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). The Consent Decree outlined the work that needed to be done so CDP policies, practices and procedures comply with Constitutional law.

Cleveland voters approved amendments to the city’s charter in 2021 that gave the CPC final say over police discipline. Learn more about the CPC with this explainer from Anastazia Vanisko: https://signalcleveland.org/clevelands-community-police-commission-put-discipline-decisions-in-residents-hands/

Commission members

John Adams, co-chair
Sharena Zayed, co-chair
Shandra Benito
James Chura
Audrianna Rodriguez
Teri Wang
Charles Donaldson
Kyle Earley
Alana Garrett-Ferguson
Cait Kennedy
Gregory Reaves
Jan Ridgeway
Piet van Lier

Watching remotely?

Watch the livestream on the CPC’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ClevelandCPC/streams

Attending in person?

Reminder: we add two hours of pay ($36) to the assignment.

Find past Documenters coverage of CPC meetings here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=246

Public meetings will begin with a public comment period.

NOTE: This meeting can run 2.5 hours.

More background on the CPC

The CPC was mandated under the Consent Decree to provide community input on needed policing reforms from the many diverse communities in Cleveland:

Faith-based organizations
Civil rights advocates
Business/philanthropic community
Communities of color
Advocacy organizations
Academia
Youth and student organizations
Homeless
Those with mental illness

CPC Commissioners consist of individuals that represent the diversity of Cleveland and a representative from each of the following police associations: The Black Shield, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and The Cleveland Police Patrolmen’s Association (CPPA).

The CPC works to empower the community’s voice in the reform process. It works with the community to develop reports and recommendations on ways police policies can better reflect community values. Better policies will help ensure policing in Cleveland is safe, effective, and that people’s civil rights are upheld.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Live reporting by Stesia Swain

Commissioners disagree on interim director's contract extension

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍

Good evening! My name is Stésià, today I’ll be live tweeting coverage for the Special Meeting for the Cleveland Police Commissions. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

05:10 PM Apr 15, 2024 CDT

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 2/25

Co-Chair Adams states that one purpose of this meeting is to finish the business of the last meeting. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 3/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Attached is an image of the table to show who the commissioners are that are present this evening. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 4/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Attached are the images of the agenda for this meeting. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 5/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Before agenda item 5.08.04 is voted on, it is amended. #CLEDocumenters@cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 6/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland This meeting is quickly reviewing and discussing the work groups for the Police Policy Committee. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 7/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Being discussed now is the CPD Training Needs Assessment. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 8/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Commissioner Shandra Benito proposes to amend this agenda item with an addition of what is being referred to as a “Flow Chart” #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 9/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland I am unable to provide a preview of the flow chart or elaborate on what this means for the commission due to the audience of this meeting not being provided the same meeting materials as the commissioners. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 10/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland As Commissioner Benito speaks on behalf of the Training Needs Assessment, Commissioner Wang raises concerns. I’ve provided video as the absence of meeting material makes it difficult to follow this part of the conversation. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 11/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland To clarify in the last video, which I will attach again after this context, Benito shares the opinion that Commissioner Wang could have shared her concerns many times prior to today. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 12/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Wang says that she has communicated these same concerns prior to today, to which co-chair Adams says has not happened. Wang shares the concern that certain decisions and/or conversations are being held with the committee and not the full commission.

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 13/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Wang shares the opinion that the results of work within training committee should not require pressure from the DOJ. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 14/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland There is a high charged disagreement between Commissioner Wang and Co-chair Adams. Adams shares with the Wang that her questions go beyond what the topic of discussion is. Wang continues with her point of view. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 15/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Co-chair Adams says to commissioner Wang that her concerns should have been addressed at the executive leadership meeting. Adams says that the purpose of that meeting to address any concerns related to leadership so that no time is wasted at other meetings. #CLEDocumenters

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 16/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Commissioner Wang says that she would like to make an amendment to a previous motion. Wang addresses a hiring agency, to which Co-Chair Adams says he feels is not necessary due to the amendment she's trying to make not being part of the business for this meeting

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 17/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland For clarification, Wang’s concern was of the extension of the interim executive director. Wang feels that an extension is unfair to other candidates and asks that a 90 day deadline be placed on hiring a director. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 18/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Commissioner Benito disagrees with the proposal of hiring a new director within 90 days. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 19/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Discussion is held on behalf of Commissioner Wang concerning an alleged conflict of interest in the Attorney working with the commission. Due to ongoing conflict and much back and forth conversation, I will end my thread with video.#CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 20/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Goodrick and Benito speak in favor of the attorney. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 21/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Goodrich shares that he feels that this motion has come about because of person opinion and differences, not because of true conflicts of interests. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 22/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Goodrick*** shares the opinion that passing this motion tonight would be a mistake. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 23/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland The videos attached are the attorneys response to this motion, sharing that there would be no hard feelings words anyone who agreed with the conflict of interest allegations. #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @signalcleveland

IG: @stevelilsister 🤍 @stesiaarie_ 24/25

@cledocumenters @signalcleveland Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters. Or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com