We at Central Ohio Young Black Democrats are proud to announce our focus of the month, Issue 2!

Issue 2: Civilian Review Board and Inspector General Charter Amendment

What is Issue 2?

Issue 2 will allow the city of Columbus to create a Review Board which will conduct investigations into police misconduct, have subpoena power (testimonies and other evidence), and make recommendations of discipline to the Division of Police. It will also create an Inspector General for the police, whose role will be primarily to examine the policies and patterns of the Division of Police as a whole and report to the Review Board. 

Why does COYBD support Issue 2?

In the wake of Breona Taylor, George Floyd and countless other unjust killings, now more than ever we believe as an organization that Issue 2 is a tangible step in holding our law enforcement officers accountable for any misconduct. We believe Issue 2 will create transparency in police investigations as the Review Board will have the ability to conduct its own independent investigations and subpoena evidence which can then be reviewed and made public.  

"Columbus is the only big city in America that does not have some form of a civilian oversight board."

-Andrew Ginther, Mayor, Columbus, Ohio

"In order to provide the level of transparency in the processes that our citizens are currently demanding, I think it is important for us to push this initiative now."

-Rob Dorans, Columbus City Councilmember

Below is the full Issue 2 ballot text:

Shall the Charter of the City of Columbus be amended as follows: The proposed charter amendment asks the electors to create a Civilian Police Review Board. Board members will be chosen to reflect the diversity of the City of Columbus. This board, independent of the Division of Police and led and staffed by civilians, will have the authority to receive and cause the investigation of complaints of officer misconduct. The board will have the power – with some exceptions based on state law, federal law, and labor contracts – to subpoena testimony and evidence during the course of an investigation.

The board will also have the authority to initiate complaints and recommend resolutions to complaints and investigations, including discipline. The charter amendment requires the Division of Police to provide to the board records requested by the board in the course of an investigation, with certain exceptions. Sufficient, consistent, and annual funding for the board and their operations, including personnel, is included in the charter amendment as well as a prohibition against a reduction of the board’s budget that is disproportionate in scale to other budgetary reductions. If any budget cuts are made to the board, then specific cause must be provided.

The board will develop rules that govern their work and will develop a procedure for how complaints are reviewed. The charter amendment also creates an independent Department of the Inspector General for the Division of Police. The Civilian Police Review Board will reside within this department and the inspector general will both be appointed and governed by the board.