COLUMBUS, Ohio — Over the holiday weekend, many took to Columbus' streets calling for police reform and an end to police violence.
What You Need To Know
- The Columbus Urban League held a forum to facilitate conversation between community members and public officials
- In 2021, the city invested $19 million in body cameras and enacted the Civilian Police Review Board
- The Ohio BCI now handles police shootings in which someone was injured or killed
- State Rep. Latyna Humphrey joined central Ohioans at the protest
- Humphrey called for more training and more bipartisan legislation around police reform
Donovan Lewis is the most recent high-profile shooting by Columbus police in the past couple of years, and community members and legislators are calling for answers.
Lewis, 20, died at a hospital following the shooting on Aug. 30. Columbus police said officers were at the scene to arrest Lewis on multiple warrants including domestic violence, assault and felony improper handling of a firearm. Police body-cam footage shows an officer opening a bedroom door in an apartment and immediately shooting Lewis, who was in bed. Lewis appeared to be holding a vape pen before he was shot, said Chief Elaine Bryant. No weapon was found.
The Columbus Urban League held a forum to facilitate conversation between community members and public officials. According to Spectrum News 1's partners at the Columbus Dispatch, Mayor Andrew Ginther, Bryant and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty were in attendance.
In addition to asking for peaceful protests, Mayor Ginther reminded community members about some recent legislative actions, including Andre's Law, which is an ordinance requiring officers to render medical aid. In 2021, the city invested $19 million into body cameras and also enacted the first Civilian Police Review Board. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation now handle police shootings in which someone was injured or killed.
At the forum, Bryant said the Department of Justice is currently reviewing the department’s policies and operations and had recently visited Columbus to train sergeants.
With regard to the Lewis shooting, she said "When it comes to certain things … that may not be a policy violation, it may not be out of policy, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was something that should occur.”
State Rep. Latyna Humphrey joined some 50 central Ohioans at a protest outside the Statehouse on Sunday evening.
Humphrey mentioned bills that would address issues surrounding police violence but said it’s been frustrating working with a Republican-led House.
“We can introduce bills like those that say 'OK, let's talk about DEI training, let's talk about this, let's talk about that,' but if it's not something that my colleagues on the other side are interested in then essentially that bill just dies where it stands,” said Humphrey. “Our job is to continue to advocate and push these bills and say 'hey, look this is important'.”
Officer Ricky Anderson, who fired the shot that killed Lewis, is currently on administrative leave as the Ohio Bureau of Investigation conducts its investigation, which could take several months. When it is finished it will be presented to the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office for possible indictment.
Other high-profile Columbus police shootings include Casey Goodson Jr. and Andre Hill, both Black men who were shot and killed weeks apart in December 2020.