But this week, police departments in Louisville, Kentucky, faced a challenge; Columbus, Ohio; and Philadelphia – each that has been increasingly scrutinized for police shooting or handling protests this past summer.
“It was just a remarkable period for police departments, police chiefs and sheriffs, unlike at any other time in recent history,” Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), told CNN. “Police departments have been challenged.”
Although race is a factor in the challenges facing police departments, Wexler said the use of force is the ‘determining issue’ for police chiefs, whether in connection with the police shooting or the demonstrations it has. cause. The department’s biggest challenge is to regain public confidence, he said.
Other departments are also facing reforms.
In Minneapolis, city councilors and advocates have called for the police department to be renovated after the murder of George Floyd in May last year.
And the Baltimore Police Department – which has had five police commissioners since 2015 – has its fourth year under a consent decision requiring comprehensive reforms after years of corruption and abusive practices.
“Public expectations have never been higher,” Wexler told CNN. “From the point of view of a police chief, (they) need to reconsider their strategies.”
Here’s a look at the three departments and the challenges they face this week.
Louisville police have low morale and lack of trust in the community
Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields was in her position for less than two weeks before a new report found that the department was struggling with low morale and a lack of trust in its community.
The report was commissioned by the city in the wake of the murder of police on Breonna Taylor, who was shot dead by Louisville police officers and carried out a warrant in her apartment in March 2020. The 26-year-old’s death sparked protests in the past. summer that initially arose from the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Among the findings in the 150-page report was the low morale of the LMPD.
About 75% of respondents to an internal survey last summer said they would move to another agency if they had the chance, said Robert Davis, senior vice president of Hillard Heintze. And now the department is struggling to recruit and retain new staff.
She said education, training and a dialogue are needed to restore the relationship with the community.
“LMPD cannot participate in enough community events because at some point the humanization is,” Shields said, adding, “and I think the department is unfortunately not nearly as diverse as it should be.”
Columbus Police Chief Retires
After the fatal police shooting at a black man last month, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced this week that Columbus Police Chief Thomas Quinlan would ‘step back’ because he could not successfully implement the reform and change.
“Columbus residents have lost confidence in him and in Division’s ability to change itself,” Ginther said in a statement. “Chief Quinlan understood that. He agreed to step back so that the city could move forward. ‘
According to the mayor’s office, Quinlan will remain with the Police Department as deputy chief.
Ginther said the city’s “commitment to change and reform will not diminish” in the search for Quinlan’s replacement, and outlined the steps the city will take forward, including the appointment of a civic review board, the election of an inspector general and the investment in “next generation” bodycams.
“I remain committed to meaningful, lasting police reform and to confronting racism where it exists, and promoting social justice so that everyone in every environment feels safe.”
In his own statement, Quinlan said that although he hoped to continue in his role, he respected and understood the community’s “need to go in a different direction” and said he was proud of what the department under him.
“In my three decades of service to Columbus, my commitment has never been to a title or position. It was for this department and this community that I love,” he said.
Philadelphia Police Leadership Facts Serious Report
“I want to make it clear that the mayor and other city leaders, including many community leaders, have personally reached out to me and expressed their continued support for me,” she said. “I have not been asked to resign, nor will I resign because of the report’s findings.”
While the report criticized several city leaders, it outlined Outlaw’s decision to leave the position of Homeland Security Inspector since March 2020, a position usually responsible for planning the response to major rallies and civil unrest, per office of the controller, attracted.
“No police commissioner in our city’s history has dealt with as many crises in the first six months of work as she has.”
CNN’s Evan Simko-Bednarski contributed to this report.