[Peace-discuss] Part II: Post-Kiwane Carrington: The Struggle for Understanding

[Melodye Rosales]

*Part II:   The Struggle for Understanding*

*Post-Kiwane: **A City Preparing for Community Building* *or* *A City
Fulfilling its Divide and Conquer Plan* *in order to achieve perceived calm
and control.*


*"...Kenith Bergeron is the U.S. Justice Departments Conciliation Specialist
that Champaign City Manager, Steve Carter brought in to "so-called" mediate,
with the City's hand-picked choices they've entitled Champaign's Black
Leaders, after the tragic death of 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington, a slightly
built, unarmed, African-American youth.  Bergeron is not new to Champaign or
the climate unrest among the racial divide.  Bergeron was called in by the
City Manager two-years-ago after the Brian Chesley "resisting arrest" case
that led to this African-American youth's arrest that also caused unrest in
the Black Community, leading to protests and public complaints about the
Champaign Police Department "Use of Force" tactics and Bias Profiling in
areas heavily populated by African-Americans.*.."

*
Part II:*

U.S. agency's investigation of Akron police could clear department of
wrongdoing or force a major overhaul: What will happen in wake of Justice?
By Stephanie Warsmith The Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Publication: Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio)
Date: Sunday, March 22 2009


Mar. 22--Cincinnati's police department created a citizens board to
investigate complaints against officers.

Steubenville's police department appointed an independent auditor.

And the Cleveland department started a shooting-review team.

These are examples of actions the U.S. Justice

Department's civil-rights division required after investigations of police
departments.

The civil-rights division has begun an investigation of the Akron Police
Department, and many are wondering what this will mean.

"Nobody knows what will happen," said Akron City Council President Marco
Sommerville. "A lot of things could happen."

Adding to the uncertainty is the fact the Justice Department isn't being
forthcoming.

When asked about the investigation, Laura Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the
Justice Department, would only say, "The civil-rights division is aware of
the allegations."

Sweeney declined to say how long the investigation might take or what the
scope will be, or to discuss -- in general terms -- how similar probes were
handled. She provided a link to the department's Web site:
http://www.usdoj.gov/.

To prepare for what might happen, police union President Paul Hlynsky has
been researching consent decrees and agreements between other police
departments and the Justice Department.

"The Akron Police Department is already doing a lot of the things that
people complain about in order to get a consent decree," Hlynsky said. "I
think Akron is well ahead of the game."

But some community members, who held another protest in front of City Hall
last week, hope the Justice Department investigation will bring about major
changes in the police department that they think are long overdue.

What could happen

The Justice Department'scivil-rights division must "redress a pattern or
practice of conduct by law-enforcement agencies that violates federal law,"
according to its Web site.

The division obtained consent decrees -- federal court orders -- in 1997
involving police departments in Pittsburgh and Steubenville.

The decrees required the departments to "implement widespread reforms,
including training, supervising and disciplining officers and implementing
systems to receive, investigate and respond to civilian complaints of
misconduct," according to the Web site.

In other cities, including Cincinnati and Cleveland, the Justice Department
reached agreements with police without needing a decree.

When people ponder what could happen in Akron, they point to Cincinnati as
the worst-case scenario.

Cincinnati erupted in three days of rioting in 2001 after police shot and
killed Timothy Thomas, an unarmed black man. He was the 15th black man to
die at the hands of officers since 1995.

The Justice Department's agreement with Cincinnati police required the
department to revise its use-of-force policy, document and investigate any
use of force, develop a "citizen complaint authority" and improve training.
An independent monitor was appointed to oversee the five-year agreement,
which expired last summer but was extended.

David Crowley, Cincinnati's vice mayor and a council member, said developing
and following the agreement was difficult and "the police department was not
happy about it." But he thinks the process has resulted in "a real
turnaround."

"All in all, I think it has improved our training considerably," Crowley
said. "Our police/community relationship is much better."

Crowley pointed out that the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People, which once boycotted Cincinnati, held its annual convention
there last year. President Barack Obama was among the speakers.

Under investigation

Two arms of the Justice Department are examining the Akron Police
Department.

The Justice Department's Community Relations Division is working with police
to improve the department's relationship with the community.

Kenith Bergeron, a conciliation specialist for this division, was in Akron
in late February. He met with community members who are pushing for changes
in the police department, and with police, city and state officials.

After these meetings, Bergeron told Sommerville and interim Police Chief
Craig Gilbride that the Justice Department's civil-rights division also was
stepping in. He said a representative of that division will accompany him
when he returns to Akron in April.

Hlynsky said the union isn't worried.

"We're confident we're going to be cleared by any Department of Justice
investigation," he said.

Hlynsky said Akron already has taken many of the steps the Justice
Department looks for in police departments. For example, he said, the
department requires officers to fill out a log explaining the reasons for
traffic stops, monitors complaints against officers, holds labor-management
meetings and has an internal investigation policy.

Hlynsky said the union would have the right to contest a consent decree, if
the Justice Department sought one.

"I think we're way far away from something like that," he said.

Gilbride hopes the investigation doesn't reach the level of a consent
decree.

"We have nothing to hide," he said. "Our records are open. They can feel
free to come in and peruse them."

In terms of communication with the community, Gilbride said, "That's an area
you always can work on."
*

Protester response*

The Rev. Bruce Butcher, who is president of Concerned Ministers, Community
Leaders and Citizens for a Safe Community, a group that has been pushing for
police department changes, doesn't hold out much hope for results from the
Justice Department's community relations division. His group has been urging
the civil-rights division to look into two recent officer-involved shootings
and other complaints of excessive force.

Butcher said he wouldn't be opposed to the Justice Department taking over
the police department "if that's going to mean an end to excessive use of
police force" and more fairness in police procedures.

"Their biggest fear is the Justice Department taking over," he said. "That's
not a fear for me."

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at 330-996-3705 or
swarsmith at thebeaconjournal.com
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