Ohio Police Reform Policy Table Announces List of Policy Demands
Formal coalition to drive accountable public safety in Ohio
COLUMBUS— To open Black History Month, a coalition of organizations working to better public safety in Ohio led by impacted families revealed their new public-facing landing page with policy demands and forthcoming newsletter. Found at www.ohiopolicereformpolicytable.org, the coalition unveiled four policy pillars to build public safety that is by and for our communities:
- Respect for all victims of crimes, including police violence.
- Care for our community.
- Accountability and transparency.
- Training and maintaining our police force.
Each pillar has subsequent policy priorities which the coalition will advance through strategic partnerships, collaboration with elected officials, and campaigns.
The Ohio Police Reform Policy Table is a statewide project led by Ohio Families Unite Against Police Brutality and OFUPAC. Founding coalition leaders (in alphabetical order) include:
- ACLU of Ohio
- Brave Technology Co-op
- Dayton Anti-Racist Network
- HEAL Ohio
- Ignite Peace
- Justice, Unity, & Social Transformation (JUST 614)
- Law Office of Spencer J Cahoon
- Ohio Fair Courts Alliance
- Ohio Justice & Policy Center
- Ohio Women’s Alliance Action Fund
- Peoples Justice Project
- REACH Responding with Empathy, Access, and Community Healing
- River Valley Organizing
This coalition worked throughout 2023 to build out the policy platform housed on the Ohio Police Reform Policy Table website. The group came together in-person to successfully remove the proposed Joint Law Enforcement Training Center in May 2023 from the state budget, demonstrated to support Ta’Kiya Young’s family after she was murdered by Blendon Township police department in August 2023, and then again to commemorate the 2023 National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality on October 22. Supporters and champions for safe communities have sent hundreds of postcards and over 16,000 letters to members of the Ohio statehouse demanding accountable policing in Ohio.
The coalition will provide updates through a new formal mailing list. Supporters can sign up here.
Out of Ohio's 88 counties, 78 are home to families with loved ones killed by police brutality. Last year was the deadliest year on record in the United States for police killings, with 1,323 known murders, an average of three killings by police in the US daily.
It is past time for accountable public safety so all Ohio families survive to thrive.