The Center Square: UC expert weighs in on proposed police reform measures

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost introduced a host of police reform proposals to state legislators last month, reports The Center Square. The news service turned to John Eck, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati, to provide context for the proposed measures.

Eck, an expert in the field of police reform, explains that in the first weeks after a crisis such as the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, there is often a rush to suggest changes and reforms. None of the reforms proposed by DeWine and Yost appear to be bad ideas, and are plausible, he says.

“That said, if you asked me if whether in five or 10 years we would see a detectable decline in Ohio of police use-of-force events, or deaths at the hands of police, I would bet against it,” Eck said, pointing out that none of the reforms are major changes, only upgrades to existing processes.

Eck also points to Cincinnati’s Collaborative Agreement as a template to follow regarding police reform.

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Featured image at top: Protesters hold a rally on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at the Milford Municipal Building in support of the Black Lives Matter movement where they call for police reform. Photo: Rachel Richardson