CPC Distributing $1 Million in Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/30/25

The Cleveland Community Police Commission has selected 41 local nonprofit organizations to receive grant funding for programs centered around restorative justice, violence prevention, and mediation—efforts aimed at reducing the need for police intervention. In total, the CPC will distribute more than $1 million in grant funds this year, fulfilling one of the requirements outlined in Charter 115-5.

This year’s grantees include a mix of first-time recipients and previously awarded organizations, with grant amounts between $10,000 and $35,000. Violence prevention programs—which use evidence-informed strategies to address trauma, increase opportunity, and transform the underlying social and economic conditions that lead to violence—are the most represented, receiving 29 of the 43 total grants, followed by restorative justice and mediation programs.

Restorative justice programs provide space for those harmed to reclaim their power and voice, while giving those who caused harm the opportunity to confront the consequences of their actions and break cycles of harm. Mediation efforts, on the other hand, bring together individuals, organizations, or communities to address conflict through structured, community-driven dialogue—allowing participants to define their own outcomes with support from trained facilitators.

R.O.A.D. GOLD INC. is a violence prevention program aimed at reducing the likelihood of reoffending, offers Class B CDL training to returning citizens. The $35,000 grant it received will help purchase equipment such as simulators and updated software, giving participants the best chance to obtain their licenses and move forward with their lives and embark on a fulfilling and potentially lucrative career.

“I’m thankful for the CPC and for them using the United Black Fund,” Founding President Dale Snyder said. “Without them, grassroots organizations such as mine would not have been able to access these funds.”

The United Black Fund will soon organize a mixer for all the grantees to meet and learn about the next steps as they enter into contract with the City of Cleveland. The CPC will send out an invitation as soon as the date and time are confirmed.

Congratulations to all the recipients!

New CPC Interim Executive Director Sworn Into Office

7/10/25
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Cleveland Community Police Commission is under new leadership. Attorney Alix Noureddine was sworn in as the Interim Executive Director at City Hall on Wednesday, July 9th.

Mr. Noureddine initially joined the CPC in March as an attorney.  Mr. Noureddine  provided legal guidance and counsel to the Commission on a wide range of issues tied to its mission. In May, at a special full Commission meeting, the CPC unanimously voted to appoint him as Interim Executive Director for one year or until a permanent hire was made. The Commission later amended the term to six months—on the recommendation of the Mayor’s Office—while keeping the option open for Mr. Noureddine to apply for the permanent position.

A proud Northeast Ohio native, Mr. Noureddine earned his juris doctor, magna cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2014. His public service record includes positions with the City of Cleveland Heights, where he served as both a prosecutor and civil in-house attorney, and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

While with Cleveland Heights, he worked directly with both the community and law enforcement, regularly advising the Chief of Police on strategies to address persistent criminal activities, while ensuring that individuals’ constitutional rights were always safeguarded. That experience has equipped him well for his new role leading what is widely regarded as the most robust civilian police oversight body in the nation.

“The work of the CPC is essential not only to strengthening community safety, but also to supporting officers by promoting accountability, building trust, and fostering meaningful partnerships,” Noureddine said. “While my role with the Commission has changed, my commitment remains the same: to help advances its mission and contribute to the progress still ahead.

The CPC has been without an Executive Director since November 1, 2024, when former Interim Executive Director Jason Goodrick’s appointment expired.  Although Mr. Goodrick maintained his leadership position after the expiration of his interim term, he stepped down from his leadership role with the CPC in May and assumed a new position within the City. Co-Chair Sharena Zayed expressed confidence in Mr. Noureddine’s ability to guide the Commission through this transitional period.

“I fully support Alix Noureddine being sworn in as interim Executive Director of the Cleveland Community Police Commission,” Zayed said. “His years of experience in municipal law and his willingness to step into leadership when needed make him a strong fit for this important role.”

The search for a permanent Executive Director is already underway. The City has posted the position and partnered with a hiring firm to review applications and identify qualified candidates for interviews with a selection panel.

The CPC is committed to transparency and will continue to share updates on the hiring process as they unfold.

For any questions or comments, Interim Executive Director Alix Noureddine can be reached at ANoureddine@clevelandohio.gov.

Remembering Officer Jamieson Ritter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
7/4/25

As we mark the anniversary of the tragic loss of Officer Jamieson Ritter, this time weighs heavily on our minds and hearts. It is a moment to pause and reflect on his service, his sacrifice, and the impact he had on our city. This time of year will always be one of remembrance, gratitude, and continued resolve.

One year ago today, we lost Officer Ritter in the line of duty while he was serving our community. The 27-year-old had served on the force for four years and, just a month before his passing, was honored by the Cleveland Police Foundation with the Police Officer of the Month award.

Even without a conviction in his case, Ritter’s family continues to hold onto hope for justice — and the CPC stands with them in seeking closure and change.

“Justice for us is public safety,” Jon Ritter told Fox 8 News. “Public safety. Number one. When society becomes so brazen this becomes almost normal, not only are your officers not safe, your entire community is not safe.”

The Cleveland Community Police Commission is committed to building stronger, safer communities by improving the relationship between the Cleveland Division of Police and the people it serves. Our goal is to help foster trust, accountability, and collaboration through clear, thorough policies and training.

Currently, the CPC’s Policy Committee is focused on revising the General Police Order related to vehicle pursuits. This updated policy will better define when officers may engage in high-speed chases — with the goal of minimizing unnecessary risk to officers and the public.

Officer Ritter’s death was a devastating loss. We honor his memory by working toward a safer Cleveland for everyone — officers and community members alike — and ensuring that our public safety systems are rooted in responsibility, care, and justice.

UBF Releases Grant Award Finalists

The Budget and Grants Committee voted on Monday, June 23, to advance the United Black Fund’s list of 2024 grant finalists to the full commission for a final vote on Wednesday, June 25. Click here to view which programs remain in consideration for the CPC grant and how much money they’re expected to receive. Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the CPC office. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

CPC Prepares to Distribute Grants

The Community Police Commission is on track to begin distributing its 2024 grants by the end of June.

The Budget and Grants Committee will meet next Tuesday, June 24, to review the final list of grantees selected by the United Black Fund, which the CPC contracted last year to manage the grant cycle from start to finish. If there are no objections, the committee will vote to present UBF’s list of finalists to the full commission at its meeting on Wednesday, June 25. A majority vote by the full commission would authorize UBF to move forward and begin awarding grants to the selected organizations.

The funds will support programs focused on community-based violence prevention, restorative justice, and mediation—initiatives designed to reduce the need for police involvement.

Both meetings will be held at the CPC office from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Agendas and supporting materials will be posted to the CPC website at least one day in advance. Paper copies will be available upon request.

Once the commission approves the final list of grantees, UBF will contact the selected organizations and invite them to an informational session covering next steps and compliance requirements.

We’re excited to see the impact these grants will have across our communities this summer and look forward to reviewing even more applications for the 2025 grant cycle, which will open up later this year.

If you have any questions, email us at clecpc@clevelandohio.gov

A Response to President Trump’s Executive Order

The Community Police Commission is committed to constitutional policing that ensures the safety of everyone, from people in the city’s most marginalized and vulnerable communities to the police officers sworn to protect us.

Our community has made progress, but much remains to be done. Now, President Donald Trump’s executive order to review all ongoing Consent Decrees will put that progress at risk. It’s time for everyone in our community, including Mayor Justin Bibb, to stand firmly against this unprecedented federal action.

Mayor Bibb has called our community’s safety his “number one priority,” and vowed to ensure that systemic changes made within the Cleveland Division of Police would continue even after he left office.

When the City of Cleveland entered into its Consent Decree agreement with the Department of Justice 10 years ago, our elected leaders acknowledged that there was work to be done to protect residents’ constitutional rights. As evidenced by the Cleveland Police Monitoring Team’s most recent report, the City has made significant strides in its efforts to correct problems in areas such as use of force and accountability. However, after reviewing the Monitor’s findings, the CPC found that Cleveland is approximately 45% compliant with the Consent Decree overall, just a 3% percent increase since 2023.

“Undermining the Consent Decree now would be a disservice to all Clevelanders,” said CPC co-chair John Adams. “While the decision to end the agreement is ultimately up to Judge Solomon Oliver, weakening or removing Department of Justice oversight would create a barrier to reform.”

The president’s order will impede citizens’ rights by abandoning important guidelines and parameters that keep officers accountable for their actions. While the CPC would continue its vital work to ensure constitutional oversight and the implementation of Consent Decree principles, via Charter 115-5, ending federal oversight now would be premature. It would also leave room for the backslide of police policies that were meant to reconcile the harm that affected so many families at the hands of police violence.

Mayor Bibb and other elected officials must listen: Cleveland is bound to the Consent Decree for a reason. CPC expects Mayor Bibb to stand up to this administration and make it clear just how important Cleveland’s Consent Decree is to the future of the city he has been elected to lead.

We encourage everyone to reach out to Mayor Bibb’s office and the Department of Justice to ask them to keep Cleveland’s Consent Decree in practice as it is written.

If we all come together, we cannot and will not be ignored.

 

 

 

 

 

Call to Action: CDP Must Fully Investigate Officer Misconduct Allegations

CLEVELAND – As discussions arise about ending the Cleveland Division of Police’s (CDP) Consent Decree, the Cleveland Community Police Commission (CPC) has identified alarming gaps in accountability related to serious internal complaints, including bias, harassment, workplace violence and retaliation.

Paragraph 176 of the Consent Decree mandates that all allegations of officer misconduct—whether internally discovered or reported by civilians—must be fully, fairly, and efficiently investigated. Findings must be supported by evidence, documented in writing, and result in appropriate disciplinary action. However, recent findings indicate these standards are not being met.

  • In March 2023, then-Interim Monitor Ayesha Bell Hardaway reported that the City had failed to appropriately handle at least three internal complaints making prima facie allegations of bias, harassment and/or retaliation, with two languishing in the Human Resources Department for over two years and one ignored by CDP command staff.
  • In March 2024, the CPC identified potential missing records related to bias, harassment, and other serious complaints while reviewing personnel files for police commander candidates. The CPC paused the recommendation process to ensure all necessary records were obtained before making these critical appointments.
  • Subsequent discussions revealed that serious 2022 bias allegations against Interim Second District Commander Timothy Maffo-Judd were sent from the CDP to Human Resources but never investigated.
  • City officials were unable to provide clear answers on how these internal complaint investigations are processed or how records are maintained.
  • In response, the CPC submitted a records request for all internal complaints from 2019 to the present related to bias, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, hostile work environment, and workplace violence.
  • The request revealed 40 or more open investigations spanning six years, many of which appear to have never been investigated or resolved. Due to the identified record keeping issues the CPC is uncertain if this is a full accounting of all these types of complaints. Some recent complaints since the problem was identified in November have moved forward. The CPC received only one complaint from 2022 and none from 2023.
  • At least one of these cases resulted in a 2.5-million-dollar settlement in 2023. There is no evidence that anyone involved in this incident was disciplined.

The CPC recognizes that these officers have a right to due process and that allegations are not proof of misconduct. When complaints are sustained, we want officers to be held accountable. When they are not, we want exonerated officers to be freed of the dark cloud of allegations. These findings raise serious concerns about the City’s ability to uphold the principles of the Consent Decree and maintain accurate records. The CPC is committed to ensuring full transparency and accountability in police oversight and calls for immediate corrective action to address these failures. In addition we request a full and complete audit of the quality of these investigations by the Monitoring Team.

CPC Responds to Governor Dewine Passing HB 315

Last night, Governor Mike DeWine signed off on House Bill 315, legislation that was originally intended to address township zoning laws. However, in the eleventh hour during last year’s lame-duck session, it was rewritten to include an amendment allowing cities to charge up to $750 to cover the cost of making and distributing copies of public records requests.

The CPC is disappointed that Governor DeWine chose not to veto this bill, as it is a clear attempt to undermine police oversight and make it more difficult for the public to access documents and videos that should be easily available. He and Attorney General Mike Yost have described the process of reviewing and removing sensitive information and images not considered public record as a tedious and expensive, labor-intensive process, respectively. However, the Supreme Court of Ohio ruled in 1994 that record seekers should not be charged for the cost of employee labor, as responding to public records requests is part of some employees’ duties. Cities are only allowed to charge for the actual cost of producing copies of those records for anyone who requests them.

Police departments should already be removing restricted portions of body-worn and dashboard camera footage before it becomes available for public consumption. The only difference between going to City Hall to view the footage and receiving a copy by mail should be the DVD it comes on. Currently, in Cleveland, the cost for each copy made is just $3.50.

Cities have the option to opt out of implementing this new law, and we suggest that the city of Cleveland do just that. Families who are already mourning their loved ones should not be charged an exorbitant amount just to get to the truth. Furthermore, news organizations, who did not have the opportunity to raise their concerns before lawmakers passed the bill, will face a significant hit to their operating budgets if Cleveland decides to follow suit.

If news organizations, or even advocacy groups, were required to pay $750 for a copy of every use-of-force incident in 2023, they would have to shell out more than $209,000. This would create yet another hurdle in an already complicated system, further obstructing the public’s right to the transparency they are owed.

Although we are deeply saddened that the passage of this bill could mean some Ohioans will be left behind in their pursuit of justice, we are calling on the city of Cleveland to lead by example and remain as transparent with the public as possible to ensure that we follow Public Records and Open Meetings laws as they were originally intended.

CPC Responds To CDP Use of Force Incident

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2024

Over the weekend, Cleveland Police shot and injured a 14-year-old boy who officers believed was tied to a string of car break-ins.

The Cleveland Community Police Commission acknowledges that this was a dangerous situation for the officers, with the teen driving a car toward them. However, we have a duty to ensure that the CDP does not violate its policies. The Use of Force General Police order, Section VIII A, states that officers shall not discharge a firearm “from or at a moving vehicle, unless the use of deadly force is justified by something other than the threat of the moving vehicle.”

It would be remiss not to acknowledge that this investigation is in its early stages and that new evidence could lead CDP to conclude that this use of force incident was justified and followed department guidelines. As long as the investigation remains thorough, fair, and transparent throughout its entirety, we will stand by the results.

However, the CPC does have concerns that the investigative process may not be swift or timely.

Earlier this year, Cleveland officers discharged their weapons at 26-year-old Antwoina Carter’s car. In the nine months since CDP released the body camera footage from that early morning, there have been no updates regarding the investigation into whether or not the officers’ use of force was justified.

It is our duty to ensure that all officers adhere to department policy, which is designed to keep both the community and police officers safe.

When officers follow the rules and regulations they are required to operate under, it means the CDP is fulfilling its obligations to remain compliant with the consent decree. When officers violate those policies and no action is taken to rectify the situation, it indicates a failure to uphold a legally binding agreement with the Department of Justice.