Larry Wallace gives report on reforms at the Cleveland Police Department
The Cleveland City Council on Monday approved spending $61,982 to adjust pay inequities going back to 2005 for 14 officers.
Larry Wallace, the former TBI director who was hired to sort out problems in the Cleveland Police Department, said it was first believed the adjustments only involved five officers.
Even with it widening to 14 officers, he said, "It's the right thing to do. This makes it much more equitable."
It was noted that there has not been an evaluation of the Cleveland Police pay for 15 years. Officials are set to hire a firm to reassess the pay situation for officers and administrators.
Mr. Wallace said steps are being taken to make sure that Cleveland Police policies are in line with those of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). He said it is planned to take proposed changes to the council each year on the fourth Monday in order to keep up to date.
He also said steps are being taken to bring more minorities and women to the department. A committee that includes Avery Johnson, the only black member of the council, is working on that process.
Mr. Wallace said the assistant chief position has been eliminated and a promotion process has been set up. It will include leadership training.
It was noted that the staff at the Cleveland Police Department has stayed at around 91 for over a decade despite a rise in the city's population. "The calls really back up," the council was told.
A need was also cited for a second SRO at Cleveland High School.
Mr. Wallace said all Cleveland Police officers have been fitted with body cameras and that cameras will also eventually be in all the police cars. He said, "This will make a huge difference in prosecuting cases."
He said a committee is meeting Thursday and will be trimming a list of police chief candidates from 10 to three.
City Manager Janice Casteel, who will make the selection, said there will be interviews of the finalists that the public can watch remotely, but not be in the room.
In other matters, officials, including the City Council and the Cleveland School Board, will tour the new Cleveland High School gym on Tuesday afternoon. The gym is set to be ready by the end of February.
Dr. Martin Ringstaff, school director, said it is possible that Cleveland High may be able to play a few of the final basketball games of the season there, but that is yet to be determined.
The city is moving forward on a master plan for city parks. It is expected to cost around $60,000.
A project to improve the safety of the intersection at Eighth Street and Ocoee Street is going forward with the federal government contributing $221,000 and the state and city $11,400 each.
There have been a number of wrecks where the two streets come together at a Confederate monument. Lanes are to be narrowed, requiring some additional queing, it was stated.
Officials considered a roundabout, but discarded the idea. Also, it was decided not to put in a traffic light.
The new design will give more visibility and eliminate u-turns, it was stated.
Mayor Tom Rowland said the new "flyover" intersection over APD 40 near the new industrial park will be ready by October 2016. It is named for him.
Councilman Richard Banks suggested that a nearby road be named for County Mayor B. Gary Davis, saying he has worked to bring economic development for both the city and county. The road is now called Cherokee Gateway Boulevard.
Four new officers were sworn in, including two from the Athens Police Department. They are Don Nation, Tyler McGuire, Russell Fredericks and Matthew Norfleet.