Latest news with #ClevelandPoliceConsentDecree
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I-TEAM: How long will Cleveland police be watched by $750/hour monitor group?
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found the city of Cleveland looking for some direction on how to get out from under a group earning up to $750 an hour in taxpayer dollars. A new federal court filing shows the city telling a judge it can't fix the police department without knowing how that's being measured. Video: Teens accused of firing guns near Cedar Point arrested For a decade, a federal monitoring team has overseen reform in the Cleveland Division of Police. The city just told a judge, 'The city cannot be expected to ascertain its current level of compliance … when the monitor has failed to explain how and by what standards it draws its conclusions.' This comes after a series of I-Team reports exposing the monitoring team collecting big money, but not giving any indication of how long this will continue. In fact, a plan for oversight in 2025 shows more than 500 points outlining goals and assignments and plans for review on use of force, and training and more. Yet, even checking every one of those boxes would not automatically mean the end of Cleveland police being under watch. We also recently exposed a member of the monitoring team getting with your money to watch neighborhood meetings and police awards ceremonies. I-Team: Charges in Tri-C police overtime scandal The group also billed the city to write a sympathy note when an officer died. And, just this week, we revealed members of the police monitoring team has charged taxpayers to answer questions from the I-Team. Even charging to respond by saying there would be no comment. Again, now, the city wants a federal judge to 'ensure that the Monitoring Team's conclusions on police accountability are grounded in evidence, regardless of whether they suggest … new training programs or changing … procedures.' A previously scheduled court hearing on the monitoring around the Cleveland Police Consent Decree is expected soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
I-TEAM: Ending oversight of Cleveland police? What it would mean to you
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team did some digging and asked what the impact would be if we saw an end to the Cleveland Police Consent Decree with federal watch over police reforms. Cleveland Police have been under watch for a decade. Every arrest. Every traffic stop. Every new policy, and more all fall under that watch. Escaped handcuffed suspect still at-large in Northeast Ohio Now, U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno has asked the Attorney General if it's time to end the Consent Decree. It has become monitoring with no end in sight.'I would love for the Consent Decree to end in the City of Cleveland,' said Cleveland Police Union President Andy Gasiewski. He sees no need for federal watch after a decade. He argues it has made officers afraid to do their jobs. In fact, we've shown you, police did an internal investigation of the arrest of the man suspected of killing officer Jamieson Ritter even though the officers there did not fire shots. 'It's hampered officers from doing their job. And, the bad guys don't have any rules and regulations, but the officers have all these restrictions and guidelines,' Gasiewski went on to heard a different view from Darrell Houston. 'Do I think we can do better? I'm requiring it as a taxpayer,' he said. Here's who qualifies for Ohio's proposed child tax credit He spent 16 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. He doesn't like the federal watch dragging out. But, he believes it has made a difference. Federal monitors have noted progress on some reforms. Not others.'I don't think the Consent Decree, right now, should be taken away when we're so close to meeting expectations for the police and the community. This is for the community and the police officers,' Houston also said. But, also at the heart of this is the cost. Members of a federal monitoring team earn up to $750 an hour. Many of you call $750 an hour outrageous. We've shown you, some members of the monitoring team went to a City Council meeting, and they billed taxpayers nearly 20-thousand dollars. Charging for travelling, going to the meeting, and even preparing for it. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb was not available to talk to us for this story. But, a city spokesperson tells us, the City just became aware of Senator Moreno's letter on Tuesday. And, the City will have more to say once a decision is made. Cleveland police locate missing 3-year-old girl; mother arrested Members of the federal monitoring team never comment to the I-Team. And, the federal judge overseeing the Consent Decree has never returned messages. Now, a new call to, possibly, end the Consent Decree. But, all we know for sure is it will end – someday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
