The arguing over the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s downtown patrol appears to have died down since last month. But work has been happening behind the scenes.
In April, County Council introduced legislation to freeze the patrol’s funding after deputies pursued a suspect who then crashed his car into another motorist, killing both drivers. County Executive Chris Ronayne, Mayor Justin Bibb and City Council members defended the patrol’s work downtown. Ronayne announced a news conference to press his case, then canceled it.
After that, council and Ronayne’s administration kept the conversation going.
County Council Member Sunny Simon said she has been talking with the sheriff and the administration about updating the department’s chase policy. She wants the sheriff to follow procedures that resemble Cleveland’s consent decree, the 2015 deal with the U.S. Justice Department overhauling police policies and practices.
“We’re slogging through the policy right now,” Simon told Signal Cleveland this week. “And I want our policy to be closer to the decree.”
Ronayne’s office said county officials are having “productive conversations” with council members to “provide clarity on our policies.” In an email, Ronayne’s press secretary said the sheriff’s department is committed to making sure its policies “align with statewide best practice and are written in accordance with the Ohio Collaborative Community Police Advisory Board.”
In the meantime, the downtown patrol took part in another chase. This one ended with a deputy firing his gun while pursuing a suspect who fled a car on foot, according to the county. The suspect was not injured and the deputy is now on paid administrative leave, the county said.
Another issue in the debate is who picks up the $1.4 million bill. County Council Member Michael Gallagher has said that Cleveland City Hall should help with the cost.
The mayor doesn’t sound ready to put the city’s credit card down on the table. At a news conference earlier this month, Bibb was asked if he planned to chip in for the sheriff’s patrol.
“Not at this time,” he said.
