When the Columbus City Council voted to hire a consultant to examine the city’s police department in January, it took a big first step in improving public safety for its citizens.
That consultant, K.B. Turner, issued a 95-page report Tuesday, which included a wide-ranging number of recommendations, everything from policy to personnel, equipment to communication.
The city paid $19,000 for Turner’s report. Now it’s up to the council to respond.
The council must evaluate the report, consider the recommendations and make decisions based on their own analysis. It is likely the council will endorse some of those recommendations, reject others and, perhaps, take others under advisement, which means they may implement those changes at some point in the future.
Some of the recommendations will take time to implement. Additional staffing and new equipment are subject to the constraints of the city budget.
But others can be quickly implemented.
Most notable in the report is the recommendation for change of leadership in the CPD.
In the 95-page report, Chief Oscar Lewis is the only person mentioned by name. His performance is noted almost from the beginning of the report to the end. The report does not equivocate where the chief is concerned.
“The Consultant is unconvinced, based on the evaluation over the past six months, the Chief is prepared to adequately lead this new department,” the report said, adding: “The community deserves a more effective leader at the Department. The research conducted for this evaluation indicates a change in leadership at the helm is needed to achieve a more efficient, effective, and responsive Columbus Police Department.”
We believe Lewis is entitled to answer the charges outlined in the report and have a chance to make his case to the council.
Lewis’ ability to lead the department has been called into question. To delay a decision as to Lewis’ role in the CPD will only make matters worse. A delay does not serve the interest of anyone — not Lewis, not the police department and certainly not the citizens of Columbus.
The responsibility now rests with the council.
We expect the council to act with the urgency the situation demands.
The time for action is at hand.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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