Residents and police share pain and take action together after tragedy

On April 7, 2001, a Cincinnati police patrolman shot and killed

19-year-old African-American Timothy Thomas, and social
unrest broke out in the city where relations between the police
and community already were strained.
Following the tragedy, several efforts in the city worked to
change law enforcement policies and rebuild community-police
relations. Among them was the Greater Cincinnati Study Circles
Program. Led by Cincinnati Human Relations Commission
Director Cecil Thomas, a veteran of the police department, a
coalition formed to implement dialogue and action to build trust,
restore relationships and move to change.
Once we sat at the table and listened to each other, we found
citizens and police all feel the same pain when loved ones are
lost, Thomas said. We found common ground and began to
work together.
People participating in the Cincinnati
social unrest that broke out after the
The first several rounds of dialogues attracted 450 citizens and
death of Timothy Thomas called for
54 officers, and generated more than 150 action ideas. More than
change. (Photo credit: Flickr user Ryan
30 community- and faith-based organizations provided space,
Thomas)
participants, and facilitators.

Successes from the dialogues and other concurrent initiatives include:

Injuries to officers and citizens during arrests are dramatically reduced. The city has had
no recurring civil disturbances.
The NAACP reports that police have greater cultural competency in working with people
from diverse backgrounds.
A Citizens Complaint Authority was created to do independent reviews of all serious uses
of force by police officers.
Use of force policies were rewritten and officers were trained consistent with the policies.
About Everyday Democracy
A national leader in the field of civic participation and community change, Everyday Democracy helps
people of different backgrounds and views talk and work together to create communities that work for
everyone.
www.everyday-democracy.org