But this week, those challenges came to a head for police departments in Louisville, Kentucky; Columbus, Ohio; and Philadelphia – each of which has come under increased attention for police shootings or the handling of protests last summer.
“This has just been a remarkable period for police departments, chiefs and sheriffs, unlike any other time in recent history,” Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) told CNN. “Police departments have been challenged.”
While race is a factor in the challenges police forces face, Wexler said, the use of force is the “defining issue” for police chiefs, whether in police shootings or the demonstrations they provoke. The departments’ biggest challenge is regaining public confidence, he said.
Other departments are also facing calls for reform.
In Minneapolis, city councilors and lawyers have called for a review of the police station after the murder of George Floyd by police last May.
And the Baltimore Police Department – which has had five police commissioners since 2015 – has entered its fourth year under an assent decree mandating sweeping reforms after years of corruption and abuse.
“Public expectations have never been higher,” Wexler told CNN. “From a police chief’s point of view, (they) need to rethink their strategies.”
Here’s a look at those three departments and the challenges they face this week.
The Louisville Police Department is dealing with low morale, lack of trust in the community
Erika Shields, Louisville Police Department chief of police, was in her position for less than two weeks before a new report found the department grappled with low morale and a lack of community confidence.
The report was commissioned by the city in the aftermath of the police’s murder of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and murdered by Louisville police officers who executed a no-knock warrant in her apartment in March 2020. The 26-year-old’s death has recently sparked protests. The summer was initially sparked by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
One of the findings in the 150-page report was the LMPD’s low morale.
About 75% of respondents to an internal survey last summer said they would move to a different agency if they had the chance, said Robert Davis, Hillard Heintze’s senior vice president, who hired the company to conduct the assessment . And now the department is struggling to recruit and retain new staff.
She said restoring the department’s relationship with the community requires education, training, and dialogue.
“LMPD cannot participate in enough community events because at one point humanization is lacking,” Shields said, adding, “and I think the department is unfortunately not nearly as diverse as it should be.”
Columbus police chief resigns
Following the fatal shooting of a black man last month, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther announced this week that Columbus Division Police Chief Thomas Quinlan would “step back” because he “could not implement the reform and change” that the mayor wanted.
“The Columbus residents have lost confidence in him and the division’s ability to change on its own,” Ginther said in a statement. Chef Quinlan understood. He agreed to step back so the city can move on. ‘
Quinlan will remain with the Police Department as deputy chief, according to the mayor’s office.
Ginther said the city’s “ commitment to change and reform will not diminish ” in the quest to replace Quinlan, outlining steps the city would take, including the appointment of a Civilian Review Board, the selection of an inspector. general and the investment in “next generation” bodycams.
“I remain committed to meaningful, lasting police reform and fighting racism where it exists, and promoting social justice so that everyone in every neighborhood feels safe.”
In his own statement, Quinlan said that while he hoped to continue his role, he respected and understood the “need of the community to move in a different direction” and said he was proud of what the department had achieved under him .
“In my three decades of service with Columbus, I have never held a title or position. I love this division and this community,” he said.
Philadelphia police are facing a damning report
“I want to be clear that the mayor and other city leaders, including many community leaders, have contacted me personally and expressed their continued support for me,” she said. “I have not been asked to resign, nor will I resign because of the findings of the report.”
While the report criticized several city leaders, it was guilty of Outlaw’s decision to leave the Inspector of Homeland Security post vacant since March 2020, a post typically responsible for planning response to major rallies and civil unrest , according to the auditor’s office.
“No police commissioner in our town’s history has handled as many crises as she has during the first six months of work.”
CNN’s Evan Simko-Bednarski contributed to this report.