Case Analysis Deliverable 1 - Background and SWOT Analysis

Swot Analysis and Recommendations for the City of Columbus, Ohio

TO: CITY OF COLUMBUS MAYOR ANDREW GINTHER FROM: SZOFI WIKSELL DATE: 1/20/21 RE: SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE COLUMBUS, OHIO POLICE DEPARTMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Given the high crime rate in Columbus Ohio, and the violence associated with the Columbus Police Department (also known as the CPD), the attached SWOT analysis was created to pinpoint trust in the CPD. The analysis mainly identifies both strength and opportunity in youth and community relations, but weaknesses and threats in public distrust and crime. In turn, my recommendations for the CPD are utilizing trained crisis professionals in nonviolent situations (namely mental health and homeless crises) and to prioritize diversity in staffing. BACKGROUND Columbus has one of the highest crime rates in America with a 37 per 1,000 resident crime rate that “more than 96% of the communities [in Ohio] have a lower crime rate than” (Neighborhood Scout, 2020). Given the police work to promote public safety, one may wonder the status of the CPD. Since the onset of the pandemic, the CPD has diminished their reputation due to officers killing multiple unarmed African American citizens, and by deploying tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of peaceful protestors during the Black Lives Matter Movement. These wrongdoings have led to an investigation of the CPD, and their practices and potential racial biases, by the U.S. Department of Justice (Bruner, 2021). SWOT ANALYSIS

The attached strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat analysis of the CPD was created after writing the above background. The high and rising crime rate, coupled with public outcry from law enforcement poses one question: where does trust in the CPD lie? The SWOT analysis looks to explain where mistrust exists and where trust can be built. The CPD has strong youth ties, community fundraising abilities, and high functioning departments. Weaknesses include high public distrust, and a declining executive reputation and workforce. They show opportunity in building trust with the youth, community, and by increasing diversity in staffing. Threats posing the CPD include a rise in violent crime, civil unrest, and public fear in contacting officers. RECOMMENDATIONS My first policy recommendation is to utilize trained crisis professionals instead of solely police officers when force is unnecessary in cases of nonviolent mental health crises, suicide threats, and homeless crises. Given high crime, and low police trust, allocating officers to where they are needed and wanted is vital, and often safer (Vasilogambros, 2020). Further, historically due to policing’s racist roots, many believe “police officers and police agencies are incapable of fixing themselves” (NPR, 2020). Moreover, a study of Columbus residents shows that “mental health crises and non-weapon suicide threats are emergencies that 65% of respondents didn’t believe required a police response at all” and “73%” of respondents feel that way about homeless people crises (Lagatta, 2021). Secondly, historical precedent has shown that in times of civil unrest, such as in the 1960s, departments have urged more diverse hiring (History Makers). Thus, my second policy recommendation is to hire a more diverse police staff; besides needing to hire more staff amidst declining workforces, “greater diversity in police departments and local government boosts trusts in those institutions” (Leatherby and Oppel, 2020).

⤷ SWOT Analysis of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department ⤶

⤷ Strengths ⤶

➔ Ties to the youth community due to numerous youth mentorship and engagement organizations including: ◆ The Strategic Plan for Diversity in Police Recruitment: focuses on youth mentoring and maintains a pipeline of

underrepresented youth from Columbus city schools into a career with the CPD (CPDAR, 2020). ◆ The “Bigs in Blue” and Teen and Police Service (CPDAR, 2020). ◆ Public Safety Corps: a youth mentorship program designed to introduce young adults to a career in law

enforcement. (CPDAR, 2020) ➔ Strong community fundraising efforts including:

◆ Donation events that are not limited to Thanksgiving Blessing Bags, Shop with a Cop, Toys for the Holidays, Coats for Kids, Holiday Blessing Bags, Trunk or Treat, Thanksgiving Meals, and Hats from the Harts (CPDAR, 2020).

◆ Donations to medical research including “James Fund For Life.” (CPDAR, 2020) ➔ High Functioning Departments including:

◆ The Human Trafficking Task Force which in October had the largest collaboration of agencies in Ohio history that led to 45 missing children recovered and 179 arrests (CPDAR, 2020).

◆ The Crime Lab which was audited and dubbed phenomenal whilst performing 260% above the national average (CPDAR, 2020).

⤷Weaknesses ⤶

➔ Public distrust ◆ This stems from numerous unjustified killings, including that of unarmed African American Andre Hill in December

and of 16 year old Ma’Khia Bryant in April (Lagatta, 2021). ◆ This also comes from the treatment of peaceful Black Lives Matter protests, more than two dozen of which have

filed lawsuits due to brutal and unnecessary force (Lagatta, 2021). ➔ A declining executive reputation

◆ The U.S. Department of Justice “has agreed to review Columbus Division of Police’s patterns and policies, particularly pertaining to racial bias” (Bruner, 2021).

◆ In April, a U.S. District Court Judge granted an injunction against the CPD banning them from using tear gas and wooden bullets against non-violent protestors. (Lagatta, 2021).

➔ A dwindling workforce ◆ The CPD has seen a large increase in officers leaving due to “pandemic fatigue and frayed community relations,

after a year marked by an escalating cycle of protest and harsh police response” (Evans, 2021).

⤷ Opportunities ⤶

➔ Rebuilding community relations through the youth ◆ The new Youth Services unit can be further developed to build back community relations.

➔ Interactive community and police events ◆ Events such as the Neighborhood Unity Walk and “Connection with the Latino Community” should be encouraged

to occur more often to foster open dialogue and trust amongst both parties. ➔ Encouraging diversity staffing

◆ Given declining staff, the CPD should prioritize hiring a more diverse workforce.

⤷ Threats ⤶

➔ A rise in violent crime ◆ There’s been a record setting spike in violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault), amidst a

continual decline from 2015-2019 (CPDAR, 2020). ➔ Civil Unrest and racism

◆ The City of Columbus declared racism a public health crisis on June 1st (CPDAR, 2020). ➔ People are afraid to call the police

◆ Due to the aforementioned police distrust, the police themselves are unable to do their jobs.

References Bruner, B. (2021, September 9). Justice Department agrees to City's request to conduct review of

Columbus Police. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved February 21, 2022, from

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/09/09/doj-accepts-citys-invitation-

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Columbus Division of Police 2020 Annual Report. The City of Columbus. (2020). Retrieved

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Columbus, OH crime rates. NeighborhoodScout. (2020). Retrieved February 21, 2022, from

https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/oh/columbus/crime

Hiring and Motivating People. The History Makers. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://da-

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Lagatta, E. (2021, March 3). Respondents in Columbus study favor police responding to fewer

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https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/03/03/columbus-study-many-favor-police-

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Lagatta, E. (2021, September 16). Panelists discuss: What will it take for Columbus police to

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https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/09/16/columbus-panelists-discuss-path-to-

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Leatherby, L., & Oppel, R. A. (2020, September 23). Which police departments are as diverse as

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https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/09/23/us/bureau-justice-statistics-race.html

NPR. (2020, June 4). American police. NPR. Retrieved February 22, 2022, from

https://www.npr.org/2020/06/03/869046127/american-police

Vasilogambros, M. (2020, June 23). 'if the police aren't needed, let's leave them out completely'.

'If the Police Aren't Needed, Let's Leave Them Out Completely' | The Pew Charitable

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WOSU 89.7 NPR News, Nick Evans. (2021, June 23). Columbus police facing wave of

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