Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend section 1903.01 of the Columbus City Codes to allow for external criminal investigations of sworn personnel in the Divisions of Police and Fire.
On June 11, 2020, Mayor Andrew Ginther announced an executive order that would require the referral of certain use-of-force cases to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to conduct independent reviews and investigations of those cases. Included in this was the intent that the City enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BCI to outline the agreement for investigations.
To effectuate this executive order, it is necessary for Council to amend the Columbus City Codes, section 1903.01, pertaining to investigations and reports by police. The amendment will allow for the police chief to make referrals to BCI in order to conduct criminal investigations of the actions of sworn personnel in the Divisions of Police and Fire, under the following circumstances:
· The discharge of a firearm by sworn personnel that results in an individual’s injury or death
· Any use of force that results in life-threatening injury or death
· Any life- threatening injury or death while in custody, or being taken in to custody or detained
· The use, or attempted use, by an employee of a stopping tactic, or a police-involved vehicular pursuit, which results in death or life-threatening injury
The amendment also allows for the chief of police to request mutual aid for an investigation from another law enforcement agency, should BCI decline an investigation.
Independent investigations are among the recommendations of the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission, and Columbus City Council is committed to taking this first step toward increasing Columbus residents’ trust and confidence in our Division of Police.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to ensure that the Division of Police has the immediate ability to begin referrin...
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