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.
Policing Topic:
Searches and Seizures
Overview
Issues concerning the 4th Amendment are an integral component of the 2015 Consent Decree; making sure that officers follow the floor established by the Constitution is important to not only improving community-police relations but for maintaining a free and democratic society. Protecting Constitutional rights has been a long time concern in Cleveland.
In 1931 the Wickersham Commission found that Cleveland police often employed what was called “the 3rd Degree,” which often involved beatings to coerce citizens into confessing, and to harass and abuse ethnic minorities in the city. Despite the image that was portrayed in movies and on TV, Eliot Ness championed efforts to bring policing in line with the US Constitution.
Timeline of Key Reports & Recommendations
The timeline below summarizes the recommended reforms related to Searches and Seizures from the reports & documents that reviewed Cleveland police operations and encouraged reform. 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 Recommendations:
Searches and Seizures
1920s - 1930s
- End police brutality and encourage de-escalation (Eliot Ness introduced de-escalation and defensive only training) (Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement), (Reorganization Police Department)
- End police brutality to gain confessions (Wickersham)
- Enforcement of traffic laws to address the traffic safety problem (Reorganization Police Department, Eliot Ness)
Summary of Recommendations:
Searches and Seizures
1940s - 1950s
- No highlights for this particular area. Please check back as our analysis continues.
Summary of Recommendations:
Searches and Seizures
1960s - 1970s
- No highlights for this particular area. Please check back as our analysis continues.
Summary of Recommendations:
Searches and Seizures
1980s - 1990s
- No highlights for this particular area. Please check back as our analysis continues.
Summary of Recommendations:
Searches and Seizures
2000s - Present
- Cleveland Community Police Commission's Recommendations and work related to Searches and Seizures
- A detailed list of all reform efforts for this time period can be found in the Consent Decree. Read the Consent Decree here or click below to see all documents and recommendations in the 2000’s - present
Continuing the Research
The CPC’s research into the documented history of the Cleveland police is ongoing as part of the 100 Years Project. We will be looking further into the topic of Searches and Seizures by analyzing past recommendations concerning constitutional policing.
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 reform recommendations made 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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