After almost eight years, Jason Goodrick is stepping away from his role as executive director of the Cleveland Community Police Commission to take another position with the city, the CPC announced on Wednesday.

A statement released by the commission called Goodrick integral to creating “the most powerful civilian oversight body in the country.”

“His defense of the Commission and its independence have been critical to the work the CPC has done and will continue to do,” the statement said.

Goodrick did not respond to Signal Cleveland’s attempts to reach him. He told News 5 that he will join the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability in a few weeks. By then, the CPC may have a new permanent executive director.

Goodrick joined the Community Police Commission in 2017, two years after it was established as required by the city’s consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice and when it was still an advisory body with little power. A former police officer and fire marshal, Goodrick had been serving as Case Western Reserve University’s director for emergency management.

In 2018, he was placed on leave for a month while the city investigated complaints of “workplace issues and conflicts,” according to Fox 8. In the weeks after his return, four staff members resigned. Three of them then filed a lawsuit accusing Goodrick of sexual harassment and retaliation.

The investigation cleared Goodrick of violating city policy, and the former staffers later withdrew their lawsuit. 

More powers, more problems

In 2021, Cleveland voters approved Issue 24, which granted the commission final authority over police policies and discipline. Commissioners are nominated by the mayor and confirmed by City Council but are independent of both. This has led to some public disputes with Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration over issues like police promotions, the handling of internal complaints against officers and whether the mayor can reject the commissioners’ choice for executive director, as Bibb did in 2023.

When the post-Issue 24 commissioners took over that year, Goodrick was named interim executive director. But almost immediately, some commissioners raised concerns about him taking the job permanently, citing the 2018 allegations.

The commissioners eventually voted 7-5 to nominate him, but Bibb refused to confirm him. In a letter to the commission, Bibb said the decision-making process was not “open and public,” and he seemed to blame Goodrick for the tension and public bickering that had plagued the commission for much of that year.

“​​Under Mr. Goodrick’s tenure as Interim Executive Director, there has been significant internal conflict, a loss of confidence, and insufficient progress,” Bibb wrote in a letter to the commissioners. “This is not the fresh start voters envisioned.” 

The executive director of the Community Police Commission leads the staff that serves the commissioners and has no authority over the commissioners.

The commission consulted an attorney who concluded that the mayor does have the power to refuse its choice for executive director, according to co-chair John Adams.

Lawsuit still pending 

After a tumultuous first year, CPC checked off some significant accomplishments in 2024, including partnering with United Black Fund to improve a community grant program after a shaky start; and passing police discipline and drone-use policies (the latter was revised and finalized this year).

While still serving in an interim capacity, Goodrick sued the city, Bibb and six of the commissioners in 2024, alleging racial and gender discrimination. (Two of those commissioners are still in their roles.) That suit is ongoing. The court’s online docket shows a telephone conference between the parties and the judge scheduled for Friday.

In the meantime, the commission is still searching for a permanent executive director. About 30 people applied for the job, and Adams recently told Signal Cleveland that commissioners will interview the three finalists at a public meeting. 

“Rest assured that the CPC remains unwavering in our dedication to serving the community,” the statement about Goodrick’s departure said. “There is still work to be done at both committee and full commission meetings and we will not put anything on the backburner and sit by idly as we wait for a new ED to be seated.”

The commissioners will discuss next steps at a special meeting at 6 p.m. on May 21 in its office on the fourth floor of 3631 Perkins Ave. That meeting will be open to the public.