NCJ Number
61738
Journal
Police Magazine Issue: 2, N 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 46-53
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
LABOR, RACIAL, AND MORALE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE CINCINNATI POLICE ARE DETAILED AND THE MEASURES TAKEN TO ALLEVIATE TENSIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
MORALE AMONG POLICE HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN CINCINNATI, BUT IN 1979 SEVERAL SERIOUS INCIDENTS OCCURRED HAVING RACIAL AND POLITICAL OVERTONES. THE POLICE HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN 2 MONTHS OF FRUSTRATING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, INCLUDING THE STRIKE THREAT, WHEN THE MARCH KILLINGS OF TWO OFFICERS BY A FUGITIVE TRANSFORMED A LABOR DISPUTE INTO A POLITICAL ISSUE INVOLVING THE SECURITY OF POLICE ON THE STREETS AND THE EXTENT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE POLICE. THE BLACK COMMUNITY, ALREADY CONCERNED OVER RECENT POLICE SHOOTINGS OF UNARMED BLACK CITIZENS, BECAME APPREHENSIVE OF THE POTENTIAL POLITICAL POWER OF THE POLICE. SHORTLY AFTER THE KILLINGS, POLICE WIVES MARCHED ON CITY HALL AND DEMANDED NUMEROUS WEAPONS AND POLICY CHANGES, AND THE CITY COUNCIL FULFILLED MANY OF THEIR REQUESTS. THE CHIEF OF POLICE TRIED TO REDUCE TENSIONS BY ENDING AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM OF TEAM POLICING THAT HAD BEEN VERY UNPOPULAR WITH ALL SEGMENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT. IN MAY THE SHOOTING OF AN UNARMED BLACK SUSPECT FOLLOWED BY THE UNRELATED KILLING OF A POLICE OFFICER WHILE HE WAS SITTING IN A CRUISER PRECIPITATED A SERIES OF CONFRONTATIONS AND DEMONSTRATIONS INVOLVING POLICE, THEIR WIVES, BLACKS, UNION OFFICIALS, AND THE CITY GOVERNMENT. POLICE CLAIM THAT THE RACIAL ISSUE HAS BEEN OVERRATED, BUT IT IS EVIDENT THAT MANY WHITE OFFICERS FEAR BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS AND ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY BLACKS. WITH THE LABOR CONTRACT STILL UNSETTLED BY FALL, THE CITY HAD TRIED TO RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF BOTH THE POLICE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY BY HIRING MORE BLACKS AND WOMEN, IMPROVING WEAPONRY AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR ITS USE, ESTABLISHING A POLICE REVIEW BOARD INSTITUTING A POLICY AIMED AT PLACING POSITIONS, AND HIRING A BLACK CITY MANAGER. HOWEVER, THE MORALE OF THE VETERAN POLICE OFFICERS REMAINS LOW.