Police Reform in Cleveland: 100 Years Project
The CPC’s 100 Year Project documents the history of policing and police reform in Cleveland from 1922 to the present. Follow our timeline starting in Cleveland in the 1920s, or see past reform recommendations made by policing topic. This is an ongoing project and we encourage all interested individuals and organizations to join us in expanding on this research.
Decades:
1960s - 1970s
At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Cleveland is facing multiple challenges: rising crime, economic decline, and police corruption. Carl Stokes, America’s first Black mayor of a major city, despite repeated efforts, is unable to enact lasting reforms. Neighborhoods rise up against continued police brutality and lack of equal treatment under the law.
Significant Documents
Reports & documents that reviewed Cleveland police operations encouraged reform.
- (1964) Police Report ‘64
- (1966) Police Services in Cleveland Ohio (Little Hoover Commission) (pdf)
- (1967) U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Ohio State Advisory Commission: Cleveland’s Unfinished Business in the Inner City (pdf)
- (1967) The President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice: The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society (pdf)
- (1968) National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, Kerner Commission (pdf)
- (1970) Confidential Memo on CDP Organization
- (1972) Mayor Perk Memo Re: Police Protection for the Citizens of Cleveland
- (1973) American Bar Association, Standards of Performance of the Urban Police Function
- (1973) Report of the Police National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals
- (1973) A National Strategy to Reduce Crime
- (1974) Cleveland Grand Jury Report
- (1974) Preliminary Report Cleveland Mayor’s Crime Commission & Report of Cleveland Mayor’s Crime Commission
Significant Events
Highlighted major events in this time frame, Not intended to be an all inclusive list.
- (1965 - 1973) Vietnam War
- (1964, 1965) Civil Rights Movement, Civil Rights Act of 1964, Voting Rights Act of 1965
- (1964) Jazz Temple Bombing
- (1965) Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission Created
- (1966) Miranda V Arizona
- (1966) Hough Uprising
- (1967) Carl Stokes Elected Mayor of Cleveland
- (1968) Terry V. Ohio
- (1968) Terry V. Ohio
- (1968) Glenville Uprising
- (1969) Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association officially created
- (1971) War on Drugs Declared
- (1972) Frank Serpico NYPD and the Knapp Report
- (1974) Local Ordinance Interfering with Civil Rights
- (1975) Headon Consent Decree
- (1977) Police Ordinances Training and Psychological
- (1977) Danny Greene bombing
- (1977) Winston Willis $100,000,000.00 lawsuit filed
- (1978) Kucinich Fires chief of police
- (1979) Busing Begins
Political Climate
The general mood and opinions about political and social issues in the 60s & 70s
- Partisan politics – the city is increasingly Democratic, but Republicans still frequently win city-wide elections. Divisions revolve less around party and more around race and socioeconomic status.
- Cleveland elects the first Black mayor of a major American city: Carl Stokes in 1967.
- By 1970, Cleveland is the tenth largest American city, seeing a population decrease to 750k. That year, the number of officers peaked just shy of 2500.
- Cleveland is becoming more segregated, which is exacerbated by white flight. Redlining increases poverty among Black residents. Black owned businesses and Black majority neighborhoods suffer from discrimination.
- Poverty is also rising, hurting city finances. In 1978 Cleveland is the first major American city to default.
- The Civil Rights Movement is at its peak and many are calling for police reforms.
- Crime is rising nationally, including in Cleveland. Hough and Glenville, in particular, are hard hit by the increase in crime. Organized crime is still powerful, but rival gangs compete for power in the city.
- Police corruption, misconduct, and poor responses to calls caused many citizens to lose faith in the CDP.
- Police unions become increasingly powerful and are now able to campaign for and against candidates.
- Many committees produce reports to encourage police reform.
Police Reform Key Highlights
Table listing a problem or concern along with a summary of recommended reforms. These are not the exact words from the text, but are summarized by our researchers as best as possible – highlighting key points and phrases.
Summary of Problem or Concern | Summary of Proposed Reform |
|---|---|
Organizational issues as listed in previous reports | More formalized power structures; higher standards for management; look towards private and non-profit sector; hire outside consultants (or hire a staff to assess) Sources Recommending: Hoover, Free Society, Unfinished Business, Confidential Memo, CCC |
Officers doing clerical and non-police tasks | Personnel is greatest asset--use it to its full potential before hiring new officers or getting new equipment; employ non-officers for non-police work Sources Recommending: Hoover; Corruption Exposure |
Lack of analysis, inability to plan for long term | Get a sense of urgency about data collection and analysis |
Poor relations with minority community is critical; officers are aloof about it | Implement new community relations policies, analyze critical incidents; Community Service Officers; train recruits and in service officers on history of African Americans (CRT) Sources Recommending: Hoover, Free Society, Unfinished Business |
Dire relations between police and minority communities | Implement citizen advisory committee to workout conflicts between police and community; review officer conduct Sources Recommending: Unfinished Business, Free Society, Kerner |
Segregated officers, few officers of color | Hire more officers of color, particularly Black officers; hire a Black Assistant Safety Director Sources Recommending: Hoover, Free Society, Unfinished Business |
Entry level of police and police service levels | Three tier system: Community Service Officer, Police Officer, and Police Agent (college level); recruit college grads Sources Recommending: Free Society, ABA, Grand Jury |
Crime sensationalism | Give people facts, not sensationalized stories about crime; let people decide acceptable balance between crime prevention and civil liberties Sources Recommending: Free Society |
Police discretion | Community must set standards for discretion, not just admonish officers for bad discretion Sources Recommending: Free Society |
Officer training | Improve officer training, include human relations training Sources Recommending: Unfinished Business |
Officer recruiting and retention, particularly of Black officers | Offer better pay, improve relationship with minority communities to encourage recruitment; integrate black officers into the entire operation of the force Sources Recommending: Unfinished Business |
Civil unrest and insecurity in minority neighborhoods | Provide adequate police services; establish fair and effective grievance procedures; recruit more Black officers Sources Recommending: Kerner, Unfinished Business |
Police corruption | “The time has come to stop making excuses and act.” Enable whistleblowers to go directly to chief--whistleblower protections, direct inspections from chief and SD; corruption investigated by prosecutor’s office Sources Recommending: Corruption Exposure, Grand Jury, CCC |
Unprofessionalism | Cannot be in bars in uniform, no unauthorized weapons, frequent inspections; update rules of conduct (circa 1950) Sources Recommending: Corruption Exposure |
Police unions | Keep union negotiations to wages, benefits, and pension; do not give up the right to set policies or management rights Sources Recommending: ABA |
Police political activity | Police have political rights, but should not wear their uniforms when campaigning--it compromises their objectivity Sources Recommending: ABA |
Police involvement in policy change | Police should have input into policy, but policymakers and citizens have final say Sources Recommending: ABA, Free Society |
Transparency | Improve openness and transparency to keep citizens informed Sources Recommending: ABA |
Aging officers and outdated traditions are ruining morale | Mandatory retirement at 60 or 65; establish Employee Review Unit to re-evaluate personnel; establish internal affairs and complaints unit Sources Recommending: Grand Jury, CCC |
Police work is too siloed; lack of common values | Rotate officers regularly, more cross meetings, insist all units have common goals; consistent ethics and morale Sources Recommending: Grand Jury, Corruption Exposure, CCC |
Newspaper Headlines
Headline from The Plain Dealer, Dec. 30, 1966
Highlighted Quotes
The problems of police and community relations are so critical in Cleveland that they warrant immediate and serious attention leading to the adoption of new concepts, policies, programs and procedures. Yet, the division stands aloof from very serious community problems, and it has no real program directed toward the analysis of these problems, nor for their solutions.
– 1966 Cleveland Little Hoover Commission
(Released two weeks prior to the Hough Uprising)
We do not mean to condemn certainly an entire police department but we do mean to make constructive criticism so that all may benefit by the same, so that the police department of tomorrow and the day after will be one of quality, so that it will be a profession attracting young men, that it will be the pride of all our citizenry.
– 1974 Grand Jury Report
Continuing the Research
The CPC’s research into the documented history of the Cleveland police is ongoing as part of the 100 Years Project. By looking into Cleveland’s past, the CPC aims to help the community gain a better understanding of what policing practices have been successful, what issues exist, and what lessons still need to be learned to move forward in creating a more sustainable policing model for the future. If you are an individual or organization interested in joining us in taking a deeper dive into this information, please contact us to get involved in expanding on this research.
Join the Research
Please contact CPC Senior Policy Analyst, Ryan Walker, at rwalker@clecpc.org to get involved in expanding on this research.
Schedule a Presentation
CPC researchers are available for interviews and custom presentations for schools, groups or organizations interested in this project or its findings.
Questions or Feedback
We welcome your questions & comments about this project. Contact us via the information listed on our contact page or start a conversation on our community forum.
100 Years Project: Explore by Decade or Topic
Read about key documents and events by year, or learn about how each police reform issue area mandated by the 2015 Consent Decree compares to recommendations made in the past.
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