Cleveland is confronting its law enforcement legacy head-on, dropping new Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) policies into the public arena for review and critique. For years, police encounters with individuals in mental health crisis have ended in bloodshed, lawsuits, and federal oversight. Now, under the shadow of a binding Consent Decree, the Cleveland Division of Police has drafted a formal framework meant to stop the violence before it starts—and they want the streets to weigh in.

The policies, developed in tandem with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Consent Decree Monitoring Team, and the Mental Health Response Advisory Committee, signal a seismic shift in how officers are expected to respond to calls involving mental illness and addiction. No longer just a training module, CIT is being codified into official procedure—a move advocates say could save lives. The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County played a central role, ensuring community voices shaped the blueprint.

Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Police Chief Calvin D. Williams are pushing hard for public engagement before the final draft lands on Judge Oliver Solomon’s desk. “These policies are a major component for the City in implementing the Consent Decree,” Jackson said, underscoring the political and legal stakes. Chief Williams added the revisions reflect “best practice along with safe tactics”—a nod to officers’ concerns without sacrificing reform.

U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon hailed the collaboration as a national model. “They will ensure that our most vulnerable citizens get the help they need,” she said. Dr. Randolph Dupont, a Monitoring Team member and crisis intervention specialist, went further: “Cleveland has a right to be proud of this work.” William M. Denihan, CEO of ADAMHS, called the policies a milestone toward a city where dignity isn’t a privilege—it’s a standard.

Gregory A. White, Consent Decree Implementation Coordinator, credited the Policy Sub-Committee, chaired by Common Pleas Judge Hollie L. Gallagher and Gabriella Celeste of Case Western Reserve University, for driving the details. Two public forums are set for December 13, 2016—one at Murtis Taylor Human Services System at 1:00 p.m., the other at Urban Community School at 6:00 p.m.—where residents can question, challenge, and contribute.

Residents can view the full proposed policies and submit feedback at clevelandpolicemonitor.net/crisis-intervention. With federal oversight looming and trust in police at a tipping point, this isn’t just policy work—it’s a reckoning. Cleveland is watching, and now, it gets to speak.

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