The three Cleveland City Council members who represent downtown say Cuyahoga County Council shouldn’t put a halt to a special downtown patrol of sheriff’s deputies.
Kerry McCormack, Richard Starr and Stephanie Howse-Jones signed a letter this week arguing that a safe downtown is crucial for big events, from Cavaliers’ games to shows at Playhouse Square.
“The Sheriff’s Department plays a vital role in maintaining order in Downtown Cleveland, a hub of commerce, tourism, and community life,” the City Council members wrote. “The visibility of sheriff’s deputies serves as a strong deterrent to crime and contributes meaningfully to the safety of residents, workers, and visitors.”
County Council is considering pulling the patrol’s funding after sheriff’s deputies took part in a chase that ended when the man they were pursuing crashed into a woman’s car, killing both.
Democratic County Council Member Sunny Simon has questioned whether the county should bear the legal liability for the patrol. Michael Gallagher, County Council’s lone Republican, has said that he wants to pause the patrol while asking Cleveland to chip in for the $1.4 million cost.
At a council meeting in April, Simon pushed to “take a step back, take a pause, take a look at what the cost-benefit analysis is for the county.”
The City Council members wrote that they were open to talking with the county about “alternative approaches that balance both safety and budgetary needs.”
County Executive Chris Ronayne supports the downtown patrol. He called a press conference this week to rally support for the effort. It was postposed without explanation.
County Council is set to talk about the downtown patrol’s funding May 13.
Narrowing down Community Police Commission executive director candidates
A co-chair of the Cleveland Community Police Commission hopes to hold public interviews this month for finalists for the executive director job.
Co-chair John Adams told Signal Cleveland that around 30 people applied for the position. This week he was finishing up interviews with the six remaining candidates. Adams has been reviewing candidates with the help of city human resources leaders, Chief Ethics Officer Delante Spencer Thomas and the search firm MGT, he said.
That panel will whittle the list down to three finalists, who will interview with the full commission in public meetings, according to Adams. He said he hopes the commission will nominate an executive director by the end of May.
“Our goal in this process has been to make sure, considering everything that has occurred, that this process is fair and unbiased for every candidate,” Adams said.
Plenty has occurred. In a split vote in 2023, the commission nominated longtime executive director Jason Goodrick to retain the job. Mayor Justin Bibb rejected the recommendation, prompting a dispute over his powers.
Goodrick sued, accusing commission members and the mayor of discrimination. That lawsuit is ongoing. In the meantime, Goodrick continues to serve as interim executive director.
