The 2015 consent decree between Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice created a new position: Police Inspector General. This role was supposed to provide a layer of oversight within the police department.
In 2022, the position was expanded to include the additional divisions within the Department of Public Safety and was renamed the Public Safety Inspector General.
Who is the Public Safety Inspector General?
In December 2024, hired Shayleen Agarwal to fill the role.
What does the Public Safety Inspector General do?
This person is supposed to review policies and practices to make sure state and federal laws are followed and that police practices are achieving the reform goals of the consent decree. The inspector general also can analyze trends within the division and can make recommendations for reform.
For example, Cleveland’s job posting for the inspector general said the job would include reviewing disciplinary trends and determining if disciplinary measures are applied consistently.
The consent decree requires that the inspector general’s reports and recommendations be made public. They currently exist on Cleveland’s website. Past reports include reviews of the Cleveland police use-of-force and body camera policies. Another report looked at how employee misconduct was investigated by the police.
Cleveland’s consent decree
The consent decree is an agreement between Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice that requires police reforms. It came after a federal investigation that found a “pattern and practice” of police officers violating the rights of residents and using excessive force. The city and the federal government signed the agreement in 2015.
The inspector general also can review investigations conducted by the Office of Professional Standards, which handles complaints made by residents about police officers and dispatchers. The goal is to determine whether investigations are complete, thorough, and handled in a timely manner, according to the consent decree. The inspector general also looks at whether the cases’ outcomes are supported by evidence.
Changes to police disciplinary guidelines are also supposed to go to the inspector general for comments, as required by the consent decree.
What are the qualifications for Public Safety Inspector General?
The consent decree lays out some requirements. The inspector general must have “significant” experience in law enforcement practices and civil rights law. The city is supposed to get the Community Police Commission’s input on qualifications and experience required beyond that.
The inspector general cannot be a former or current member of Cleveland’s police department. That does not prohibit a former or current police officer in a different city from taking the job. Former Solon Police Chief Christopher Viland held the job from 2019 through 2021, when he left for a short stint as Cuyahoga County Sheriff.
Cleveland’s charter says the Community Police Commission is responsible for interviewing inspector general candidates and making a recommendation to the mayor.
Who does the Public Safety Inspector General report to?
Originally, the inspector general focused on the Cleveland police and reported to the chief of police. Now, the position reports to the city’s public safety director and also covers fire, emergency services, animal control and corrections.
An October 2023 report from the federal monitoring team said the city still has to show that the Office of the Inspector General can meet the requirements of the consent decree. It warned that without more staffing and support, expanding the role may hinder the city’s ability to comply with the consent decree.
How is the Office of the Inspector General paid for?
The office has its own budget within the Department of Public Safety. The money comes from the city’s General Fund.
In 2023 the city allocated $236,266, or .06% of the Department of Public Safety’s $380,920,081 budget. Most of the costs were for the salaries of the inspector general and an auditor. Both positions were listed as vacant at the time.
The budgeted salary for the inspector general ranges from $100,000 to $135,000.
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