COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said there is an urgent need to take advantage of the current momentum and make policy changes with Columbus police.
On Wednesday, Ginther announced the city will join a national campaign designed to reduce police use of force and help guide reporting.
The ‘8 Can't Wait’ campaign was created from Campaign Zero, which started from protesters and researchers in 2015 after protests in Ferguson and Baltimore.
The pillars of the campaign include:
- Banning chokeholds
- Exhausting all other means before firing a weapon at a suspect
- Requiring a warning be given before officers shoot at a suspect
- Requiring de-escalation
- Banning firing at a moving vehicle
- Requiring a use-of-force continuum
- Comprehensive reporting on use of force and other incidents
- Requiring officers who see their colleagues engaging in wrongdoing to intervene
Mayor Ginther says Columbus police already has four of the eight pillars in their policies.
“We believe, and research shows, more restrictive use of police force policies can reduce violent interactions with police and can save lives. We are firmly committed to all eight components of the challenge,” Ginther said.
Fraternal Order of Police Cap City 9 Lodge Union President Keith Ferrell says officers hands are really tied.
Ferrell argues there have been incidents in the last few nights where protesters have jumped on people's cars who were just trying to get through the area, but he says tools are being taken away from police to be able to protect the public from the criminals within the protests.
But he adds, he is more than willing to discuss policy changes with the mayor.
“Without being able to dive into too much detail, because we haven't had a chance to have a conversation with city hall or the mayor’s office about any of that, some of the things I think Columbus is way ahead of the game because they are reasonable. There are things in there that are very concerning for not just officers, but the public,” Ferrell said.