Marcus Perez, administrator for the Office of Professional Standards (OPS), took voluntary leave on Nov. 16 following complaints from employees that his management style was “aggressive” and “abusive.” A month later, Perez is still on paid leave.
Since then, Signal Cleveland has received copies of four complaints against Perez, citing multiple allegations including “harassment.” A city official confirmed that Perez received “corrective action” following the outcome of one investigation.
Initially, a Cleveland spokesperson confirmed that a single employee complaint sparked Perez’s voluntary leave and a city investigation. Perez also told Signal Cleveland that he was only aware of the single complaint–filed Nov. 16–and that complaint was the reason for his leave.
Perez’s temporary departure and the city’s investigation revealed issues with how the newly independent office was supposed to work alongside the city to address personnel issues and complaints related to city employees who report to the Civilian Police Review Board (CPRB).
Voters approved Issue 24 in 2021, giving OPS independence from the city’s Public Safety Department. Now, the nine-member review board directly oversees OPS. The board, whose members are appointed by the mayor and City Council, voted to hire Perez.
Although Issue 24 granted OPS independence, it did not account for how the office and the City of Cleveland would work to address personnel issues within OPS, according to a city spokesperson.
OPS employees and public records revealed multiple complaints dating back to June of 2023, a month after Perez was hired to lead OPS. Four employees submitted formal complaints about Perez with the city’s HR department. Two employees resigned, citing Perez as the reason for their departure.
The two resignations–one in August and the other in September–included one of the agency’s most senior investigators, Julie Delaney, and a longtime public employee, Maryum Ali, who joined the office to work with community members.
Disciplinary hot potato
Cleveland confirmed that the human resources department has investigated three EEO complaints against Perez, according to Tyler Sinclair, a city spokesperson.
Equal opportunity employment (EEO) laws are designed to protect employees from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, disability or genetic information.
To date, three complaints have been investigated and were determined to be “unsubstantiated” by HR, according to Sinclair.
HR found that Perez violated a city policy that prohibits behavior including threats, harassment and intimidation in the workplace, based on a letter sent to both the employee and Perez on Aug. 25.
The employee, CPRB Secretary Sylvia Grimes, reported Perez following “a verbal attack” witnessed by multiple OPS employees, including an HR representative, according to the complaint. Signal Cleveland attempted to contact Grimes but has not heard back.
Based on the investigation from one complaint, the CPRB decided on “coaching as corrective action,” Sinclair wrote in a Dec. 13 email.
It is unclear when the review board made that decision or what coaching Perez has received. Signal Cleveland recently received a copy of Perez’s personnel file, which contains no mention of the employee complaints or any corrective action.
There is also no mention of Perez or the investigation in the available meeting minutes, though minutes for several meetings are not publicly posted online. Perez didn’t return a call requesting a comment.
“HR has the duty to investigate, but ultimately does not make the determination on final discipline as it falls under the purview of CPRB,” Sinclair continued over email.
Three employees who filed complaints against Perez received letters from HR explaining the outcome of its investigations. Two of the letters were dated after Signal Cleveland published its initial coverage of Perez’s leave from OPS.
The most recent EEO complaint is still under investigation by HR. Signal Cleveland is waiting for a copy of the complaint via records request.
No comment from Civilian Police Review Board
Signal Cleveland reached out multiple times to the chair of the review board, Billy Sharp, for comment about Perez.
After weeks of no response, Signal Cleveland attended the review board meeting on Dec. 12 to address the board during public comment.
Sharp, speaking on behalf of the board, confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing and said there will be no further comment until the investigation is complete.
What’s next for Marcus Perez?
Once Cleveland completes its investigation, city HR employees will present their findings to the board. From there, the board can make a decision about whether or not to discipline Perez.
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Head of Cleveland police oversight agency on voluntary leave following employee complaints, resignations
Two employees resigned from the Office of Professional Standards citing Perez’s leadership as “abusive” and “careless.”