Dayton leaders announce police reform process

Dayton leaders this week unveiled a police reform process to drive policy change and improve police-community relations.

There will be five working groups to address each of the five police reform areas Mayor Nan Whaley and city and police leaders identified June 3, according to a news release from the city.

Each working group will be co-led by a city commissioner and community leader. The working groups and co-leaders are:

■ Oversight: Increase transparency in the process to report suspected police misconduct and strengthen the Citizens’ Appeal Board made up of community members. Co-leaders are City Commissioner Matt Joseph and Montgomery County Recorder Brandon McClain.

■ Use of Force: Assess all recent incidences in which force was used by Dayton police to look for patterns and biases, which will inform a review of use of force policies. Co-leaders are City Commissioner Jeffrey Mims Jr. and Willis Blackshear Jr.

■ Training: Continue implicit bias and deescalation training for all Dayton police officers. Co-leaders are City Commissioner Darryl Fairchild and Stacy Benson-Taylor.

■ Recruitment & Promotion: Review police recruitment, oversight and selection process to better identify any potential issues in new officers and increase diversity in the force. Co-leaders are Mayor Nan Whaley and Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Gerald Parker.

■ Engagement: Continue to deepen community engagement by rank and file officers to strengthen relationships with the people they serve and protect. Co-leaders are City Commissioner Chris Shaw and Shannon Isom.

Working group members will include city residents, the Dayton Police Department, Community Police Council members and people with expertise in the criminal justice system. The working groups will be supported by city staff, University of Dayton law students and staff from the Dayton Mediation Center, the city said.

“Since the protests over George Floyd’s murder began, Daytonians have shown incredible passion and thoughtfulness about rooting out systemic racism in our community and in our police force,” Whaley said in a statement. “We are looking forward to creating the opportunity for Daytonians to work alongside Dayton police to shape policy for the police department that serves them.”

The working groups will evaluate best practices, engage the broader community and make policy recommendations that will be evaluated by the Dayton City Commission and city administration.

While some policy changes may be enacted right away, the majority of the process is expected to occur over six to nine months. Regular reports from the working groups will be shared with the community, the city said.

McClain, the county recorder, said he is dedicated to working with the community to restore faith in the process used to file and consider complaints against police officers that allege misconduct.

He said changes are needed and he witnessed the “weight of injustice” while previously serving as a criminal defense attorney, public defender, Dayton Municipal Court magistrate and acting judge.

“Those experiences are exactly why I am involved in our communities’ police reform efforts,” he said.

Judge Parker said he joined the working group because throughout his career he has seen a lack of diversity within all branches of government.

Parker is the first black male judge to be elected to the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court general division bench.

He said he wants to educate people in law enforcement on the importance of minority representation.

“It is the obligation of those presented with the opportunity to use their voice to do so in a manner that will effect positive change and encourage diversity in underrepresented areas,” he said. “I would not have joined this group if I did not think important changes could be made for the betterment of this great city.”

Blackshear said he wants to put in place strong policies related to the use of force that ensure the safety of citizens and police during interactions.

He said policies are needed to prevent situations from escalating that lead to injuries or potentially death.

“I am confident there will be important changes and that the city will see them through,” said Blackshear, who works in the Montgomery County Auditor’s office and is a candidate for state representative for Ohio’s 39th District.

He said, “The community has spoken and its leaders heard their concerns, and the time is now to have policies in place that reflect the voices of the community.”

‘Since the protests over George Floyd’s murder began, Daytonians have shown incredible passion and thoughtfulness about rooting out systemic racism in our community and in our police force. We are looking forward to creating the opportunity for Daytonians to work alongside Dayton police to shape policy for the police department that serves them.’ Nan Whaley, Dayton mayor