Do you trust the Cleveland police department?
That question lies as the heart of a series of online surveys, focus groups and listening sessions to be carried out this summer by the city’s Police Accountability Team, the federal monitoring team, and the Cleveland Community Police Commission. The latter two are mandated to carry out regular surveys. The Police Accountability Team, which was formed in 2022, will be adding a third to the mix.
“We’re here to foster this idea that we are trying to stabilize and increase trust in the community between police and the community,” Leigh Anderson, the head of the Police Accountability Team, told Scene.
Anderson will be working alongside criminologist Elias Nader and researchers at Kent State to orchestrate an online survey and in-person listening sessions across Cleveland. Whatever the team finds “will inform future improvements” of the force, a press release read, and form the backbone of a larger funding ask.
On Wednesday, Anderson and her two colleagues, Hannah Macias and Martin Bielat, briefed City Council’s Safety Committee on more progress on the Consent Decree front. Cleveland police made 173 total upgrades—areas of improvement—since 2015 in a variety of areas. It’s part of the reason why the city and DOJ have jointly asked a judge to end federal oversight of the department after 11 years.
But some councilmembers wondered if the progress the city sees wouldn’t be reflected in how residents feel.
“Do you believe that Cleveland residents believe what we are telling them?” Ward 8 Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones asked Anderson after her presentation.
“I think this is the grounding, foundational ‘you can say that you’re great.’ And say we doing all these things,” she added. “But if the people do not believe you, it doesn’t—what are we doing?”
“No, I have asked that question,” Anderson said. “That is one thing that the Kent State team and we’re aware of, right? These are numbers, right? But it’s not being felt. We understand that.”
On Thursday, Scene asked a half dozen Clevelanders their thoughts on Cleveland’s police force. Separated from Tamir Rice and 137 shots by years now, many had an overall favorable opinion.
“I’m on the fence, if you know what I mean,” Antonio, a 32-year-old who wished to use his first name, told Scene on the corner of East 9th and Euclid. “I can’t really pick a side. You have terrific cops and you have some stupid cops.”
“I do trust them,” Antonio added. “The cops here, they haven’t steered me wrong so far. But to each their own.”
Elijah and Janelle Nevels, who live in Shaker Heights, thought similarly: no truly bad experiences, but an awareness that bad eggs exist.
Nevels, a stand-up comedian who performs regularly at Hilarities, said he’s noticed a friendlier police presence on East 4th Street in the past three years. More “interaction,” he said. “Not just, like, a head nod.”
And both felt a public survey was in the city’s best interest.
“I’m glad to hear that. The city’s making efforts to hear where the people are coming from.”
Others feel differently, of course. Two men in their twenties chirped in when they heard Scene was asking Clevelanders about their thoughts on the cops.
“You investigating them? Man, good for you,” one said, holding a printer on Euclid Ave.
His friend nodded. “Go get ‘em,” he said.
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