Ohio Collaborative

About the Ohio Collaborative

In December 2014, Gov. John R. Kasich signed Executive Order 2014-06K, announcing the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations after a series of incidents in Ohio and around the nation highlighted the challenges between the community and police. The task force included 24 members representing the governor, legislature, attorney general, the Supreme Court of Ohio, local law enforcement, organized labor, local community leaders, the faith-based community, business, municipalities and prosecuting attorneys.

On April 29, 2015, after a series of public forums held around the state, the task force delivered its final report to the Governor, who in turn signed Executive Order 2015-04K, established the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory Board (Ohio Collaborative) to oversee implementation of recommendations from the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations.

The Ohio Collaborative, a 12-person panel of law enforcement experts and community leaders from throughout the state, established state standards – for the first time in Ohio’s history – on August 28, 2015, for use of force including use of deadly force and agency employee recruitment and hiring that can help guide law enforcement agencies in Ohio. These new standards will hold everyone accountable and instill a greater confidence with the public. The Collaborative works closely with partners, including the community and law enforcement agencies, to implement the new standards. All law enforcement agencies are expected to meet or exceed these new standards as they develop policies and procedures to meet these new expectations. The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, communicated those new standards to Ohio’s nearly 960 law enforcement agencies. The Ohio Collaborative also provided model policies as a resource for agencies, and OCJS serves as a contact and is available to assist agencies with implementation. OCJS published a report on March 31, 2017, listing which state and local law enforcement agencies have adopted and fully implemented the new minimum standards. More than 500 agencies employing over 27,000 officers (in all 88 counties, representing 79 percent of all law enforcement officers in Ohio and most of Ohio’s metropolitan departments) are participating in the certification process.

Task Force Web site Standards

Members

Chair, Karen Huey
Assistant Director Ohio Department of Public Safety

Comm. Lori Barreras
Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Rep. Juanita Brent
Ohio Representative

Dr. Ronnie Dunn
Associate professor, Cleveland State University

Dr. Robin S. Engel
Professor, University of Cincinnati

Anthony L. Johnson
Officer, Columbus Police Department

Tom Miller
Sheriff, Medina County

BCI Supt. Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General's Office

Rev. Walter S. Moss
Pastor and CIRV Project Director,
Stark County Prosecutor’s Office

Justin Paez
Chief, Dublin Police Department

Ronald J. O'Brien
Franklin County Prosecutor

Ex Officio Members

Sen. Sandra Williams
Ohio Senator

Rep. Phil Plummer
Ohio Representative

The Hon. Tom Roberts
Former Ohio Senator

The Late Hon. Louis Stokes
Former Member of Congress

The Late Hon. George V. Voinovich
Former U.S. Senator, Governor of Ohio and Mayor of Cleveland

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Ohio Collaborative?

Gov. John R. Kasich established the Ohio Collaborative Community-Police Advisory board to oversee implementation of recommendations from the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations. The creation of a community law enforcement advisory panel will begin developing – for the first time in Ohio history – state standards that can help guide law enforcement agencies in Ohio.

What are the elements of a standard?

For the first time, Ohio’s law enforcement agencies now have a set of minimum standards for the use of deadly force and for recruitment and hiring. A standard must consist of four elements:

Policy/procedure
Knowledge/Awareness (read and sign)
Proficiency (Roll-call training/quizzes)
Compliance (agency activity and accountability)

What are the policy statements?

See policy statements approved by the Ohio Collaborative by clicking HERE.

In the policy statement for the Agency Employee Recruitment and Hiring standard it reads “Law enforcement agencies shall provide equal terms and conditions of employment regardless of…veterans status, military status…” Does that mean I cannot reward an applicant for their military service and experience?

This policy statement is not meant to remove rewards for any service or experience that can help demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications. This policy statement is meant to describe how an applicant cannot be disqualified based on their veteran or military status, as well as any other opportunities during employment. And this policy statement does not supersede any equal employment opportunity laws.

How will agencies know about the standards?

The Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, have begun communicating these new standards to Ohio’s nearly 1,000 law enforcement agencies and the Ohio Collaborative has sent a letter to police departments and sheriffs’ offices. OCJS will be available to assist with implementation and will publish a report by March 31, 2017, listing which state and local law enforcement departments have adopted and fully implemented the new minimum standards.

How will agencies implement these standards?

Most agencies in Ohio already have standards in place; it is our expectation that all agencies in Ohio will meet or exceed these standards. The Ohio Collaborative will develop model policies as a resource for agencies, and OCJS will serve as a contact for them as well. OCJS can be reached at (888) 448-4842.

What happens next?

This is just the first milestone for the Ohio Collaborative, who will continue to work to implement recommendations from the Ohio Task Force on Community-Police Relations and strengthening the bond between police and the communities they serve. The Collaborative plans to meet on a regular basis to discuss additional standards as well as a public awareness campaign.