By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green officials realize that local law enforcement is operating in the glare of intensified public scrutiny.
But officials believe Bowling Green Police Division can stand up to the analysis.
“There is a culture of accountability that our police division takes very seriously,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said Monday evening during a City Council meeting.
The mayor presented council with a report on the police division’s use of the “8 Can’t Wait” policies. The “8 Can’t Wait” includes the following policies that are said to reduce use of excessive force by police by 72%:
- No chokeholds or strangleholds unless in life or death situations.
- Required de-escalation.
- Required warning before shooting.
- Exhaust all means before shooting.
- Duty to intervene.
- Ban shooting from moving vehicles.
- Require use of force continuum.
- Require comprehensive reporting.
“We want to be transparent about our policing policies,” Aspacher said. “We’re hoping this is an ongoing conversation.”
The mayor also talked about the process for filing complaints about the police division.
“If there’s a problem, they want to know about it,” he said. “We’re still listening. We’re still learning.”
During the council meeting, a letter was read from Steve Demuth, a BGSU sociology professor, who questioned the use of an organization called Force Science for an upcoming BGPD training this fall.
Demuth said that Ohio State University canceled a training for its police by Force Science because of questions about the actual science behind the agency’s use of force training.
However, the training scheduled for BGPD does not have to do with use of force, but rather with de-escalation, according to BGPD Major Justin White.
Not In Our Town BG is hosting “Community Conversations: Law Enforcement Policies and Practices,” on Wednesday, June, 24, at 7 pm. The event is a continuation in a series and will be held online.
The event will be facilitated by moderators Tonya Rider, Title IX investigator at BGSU and Phil Stinson, professor of criminal justice at BGSU. Panel members will include BGPD Chief Tony Hetrick; BGSU Safety Director Mike Campbell; and peaceful protest organizers Anthony King and Atonn Smeltzer.
Details about the forum can be found at http://bgindependentmedia.org/panel-discussion-planned-on-law-enforcement-policies-and-practices/
Also at Monday’s meeting, council member Neocles Leontis asked about utility bill deferments in the wake of the coronavirus.
Public Utilities Director Brian O’Connell said the amount of delinquent bills is more than double those in 2019.
“They are substantial,” O’Connell said.
The Board of Public Utilities halted shut-offs earlier this year, but agreed to start shut-offs for delinquent bills again in July.
But O’Connell pointed out that the city works with utility customers to set up payment plans. It was agreed to stretch out the payment plans over three months, to give people more time to catch up, he said.
Customers having difficulty are also directed to help from HEAP, Salvation Army or MuniPal.
However, if residents don’t contact the city, they risk their electricity being shut off.
“We can’t wait indefinitely,” O’Connell said.
The city does not shut off water service, he added.
In other business, council:
- Set a public hearing on the Gateway Zoning District for July 20 at 6:15 p.m.
- Heard from O’Connell that the city’s water consumer confidence report is currently on the city’s website.
- Learned from Public Works Director Brian Craft that work on the sewer laterals on Clay Street has been completed. The street now has new pavement, curbs and sidewalks.
- Heard from Craft that 29 bike sharrows are being painted on Manville Avenue, and 10 on Thurstin Avenue. More will be placed on Thurstin after paving work is completed.
- Agreed to apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce for infrastructure improvements in the Wood Bridge Business Park.
- Approved working with the Ohio Department of Transportation on a roundabout at East Wooster Street and Campbell Hill Road.
- Agreed to start holding in-person City Council meetings on July 6. For the time being, meetings will also be online.
