After more than a decade of federal oversight, Cleveland’s police force is poised to regain local control as the Department of Justice and city officials jointly move to terminate the 2015 consent decree that has governed police reforms.
On Tuesday, both parties filed a motion signaling the end of federal monitoring, acknowledging “more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP).” The move marks a significant milestone for a department that has undergone extensive structural changes since a 2013 federal investigation found patterns of excessive force and systemic deficiencies.
From Crisis to Compliance
The transformation hasn’t been quick or easy. Cleveland’s police reform journey began after DOJ investigators uncovered “structural and systemic deficiencies” including “insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community” that contributed to constitutional violations.
But now, nine years later, the monitoring team has reported substantial progress across multiple critical areas. Perhaps most notably, the department achieved 75 upgrades in the Use of Force section alone — considered one of the most crucial benchmarks in the reform process.
Crisis intervention has emerged as another standout success. The division has established what monitors describe as “a robust crisis intervention program that meets or exceeds the foundational requirements” of the consent decree, with 24 upgrades in this area. This represents a significant shift in how officers respond to mental health emergencies and other sensitive situations.
What about the nuts and bolts of daily operations? The monitoring team determined that CDP has achieved “Substantial and Effective Compliance” across all staffing requirements. The department now maintains adequate equipment with a 93% in-service rate for zone cars and “no indication of major systemic neglect” — a far cry from conditions that existed when federal oversight began.
From Federal Oversight to Local Accountability
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division expressed confidence in the department’s transformation: “We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland.”
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer echoed that sentiment, acknowledging that “the Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished” while pledging continued collaboration on public safety priorities.
Has the culture truly changed within the department? Mayor Justin Bibb believes so, stating that “reforms in Cleveland are self-sustaining, compliance has become culture, accountability is locally embedded, and local oversight remains.” This suggests the changes aren’t merely procedural but have taken root in the department’s operational DNA.
Police Chief Dorothy Todd credited the collaborative effort: “I extend my appreciation to the U.S. Department of Justice, Mayor Bibb, the Monitoring Team and the Police Accountability Team for their guidance and oversight throughout this process. I also share this achievement with the members of our Division of Police, whose resilience, professionalism, and dedication to serving our city made this progress possible.”
The motion to terminate the consent decree now awaits a judge’s approval. If granted, Cleveland will join a small but growing list of cities that have successfully emerged from federal oversight of their police departments — though the real test will be whether these reforms endure in the years to come without the federal government looking over the city’s shoulder.
