More Reform Proposed For Ohio Law Enforcement

COLUMBUS, OH — In the wake of former police officer Derek Chauvin being found guilty of murder, Gov. Mike DeWine laid out his plans for continued law enforcement reform in Ohio.

"Last year, I ordered all cabinet agencies with sworn law enforcement officers to ban the use of chokeholds unless deadly force would otherwise be authorized," DeWine noted. He also ordered the Ohio State Highway Patrol to equip troopers with body cameras.

DeWine's team has also proposed several budget initiatives, including allocating $10 million to help police departments buy body cameras, and a $1 million allocation for grants to support local police agencies recruit women and people of color.

State Rep. Phil Plummer, a Republican from Montgomery, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and DeWine are also working on a legislative package that would further reform state law enforcement practices. If passed, the bill would:

• Establish a peace officer oversight board, which will have the ability to revoke a person's ability to work as a police officer
• Create a use-of-force database
  • Law enforcement agencies would need to report use-of-force by their officers, and that information would be compiled in one database
• Create an officer discipline database.
• Require independent investigations for officer-involved critical incidents.
• After establishing a financial support resource, police will be required to attend training each year.

Chauvin Trial

Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, faced third-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, and second-degree unintentional murder charges in George Floyd's death. He was found guilty of all charges on Tuesday.

Floyd died May 25, 2020 in Minneapolis. Officers were sent to investigate a "forgery in progress" and arrested Floyd. He was in police custody at the time of his death, and video of his arrest shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly 9 minutes. All four officers who were at the scene, including Chauvin, were fired the next day, and have since been criminally charged.

Video of Floyd's death prompted national unrest in May 2020.