I-TEAM: $750-an-hour Cleveland police monitor defends billing
**Watch a previous report on the police monitor group above
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has uncovered the latest report from a group overseeing Cleveland police at up to $750 and hour, and the report calls out the city for raising questions about the cost and more.
Lead monitor Karl Racine wrote, 'It is our sincere hope that the city does that which the residents of Cleveland expect: focus solely on achieving compliance with the Consent Decree, rather than pursuing a strategy of litigation against this settlement.'
The monitoring team reports to a federal court judge, and the city law department has filed challenges to some of the group's billing. And, the city has raised questions about how the oversight is measured.
Meantime, the I-Team has exposed outrageous bills and oversight with no end in sight.
The monitoring team has billed the city for big money after sending a letter of condolences when an officer died, after preparing for and sitting down for an interview with reporters including the I-Team, and after watching police awards ceremonies.
Last year, we even revealed the monitoring team billed city taxpayers $2,400 just for the cover letter of a report.
In the cover letter to the latest report, the monitor wrote, '…the city has doubled down on its disputes with the monitoring team regarding the reasonableness of the monitor's bills and recently has taken issue with the methodology supporting the monitor's ratings in the 16th semiannual report…The court is evaluating the city's objections to the monitor's bills…'
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The latest cover letter also says, 'The city's attack on the monitor's process for rating the city via semiannual reports is particularly troublesome.'
The city has argued it can't fix the police department without knowing more specifics about standards and goals police need to meet.
The latest report says the…'city deserves credit for achieving 15 upgrades.' Progress in areas such as Community and Problem-Oriented Policing, Crisis Intervention Training and Use of Force.
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The new report also notes three 'downgrades.' The monitor points to concerns over other police oversight. That includes issues with the operations of the City's Office of Professional Standards and delays with the Community Police Commission.
This is the first report since Lead monitor Karl Racine had an encounter with police at the Jack Casino. An off-duty officer called for back-up saying Racine was refusing to leave. He, ultimately, did leave, and no charges were filed. He, later, issued a statement he had not been acting inappropriately.
Still, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno has called for discipline of Racine through a bar association.
City Councilman Brian Kazy also asked a federal judge to remove Racine as Monitor. But, the judge over this case decided not to do that.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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