CLEVELAND — Over a year after Clevelanders passed Issue 24, the city’s Community Police Commission is becoming a reality.

What You Need To Know

  • Cleveland’s new Community Police Commission was officially approved Monday by city council

  • The civilian-led commission will be able to decide on a variety of issues affecting city police: from discipline to recruitment to training and policies

  • The group will comprise 13 members

  • The mayor will first need to sign off on council's resolution, then the board will be sworn in and undergo training

Passage of Issue 24 gave way to the creation of a civilian-led board that would have the power to decide on policies and discipline affecting city police.

Cleveland’s new Community Police Commission was officially approved Monday by city council. 

The newly established commission will consist of 13 members and will be able to decide on a variety of issues affecting city police: from discipline to recruitment to training and policies. 

“There is no other commission like it across the country,” said Janice Ridgeway, a member of the new Community Police Commission.

Besides undergoing background checks, all nominees took part in interviews by the Mayor’s Appointments Committee (MAC).  

According to the city, the new members of the commission broadly represent the racial, social, economic and cultural diversity of the city including members who represent immigrant/refugee, LGBTQ+, youth, faith and business communities.

“This is a historic moment in our city’s long journey toward police reform. While Cleveland’s Community Police Commission first emerged out of the consent decree, this commission will live beyond it with greater powers and real independence to truly make a difference,” said Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb.

Ridgeway said she hopes the group will be able to truly make that difference, that impact, that change she said the city so badly needs.

“If we are effective, as we should be, the impact of this commission could be huge,” she said..

Bibb still needs to sign off on the city council’s resolution to appoint the nominees.

The group will then be sworn in and undergo training.

 

Members of the 2022 Cleveland Community Police Commission:


Dr. John Adams, 4-year term 
Shandra Benito, 2-year term 
James M. Chura, 4-year term 
Charles Donaldson Jr., 4-year term 
Pastor Kyle Earley, 2-year term 
Alana Garrett-Ferguson, 4-year term  
Cait Kennedy, 2-year term 
Gregory Reaves, 2-year term 
Jan Ridgeway, 4-year term 
Piet van Lier, 4-year term 
Audrianna Rodriguez, 4-year term 
Teri Wang, 2-year term 
Sharena Zayed, 2-year term