Groups seek changes to police consent decree

CLEVELAND (AP) — Civil rights groups are asking a federal judge to change an agreement aimed at reforming the Cleveland police department.

They want an independent agency responsible for investigating deadly-use-of-force cases instead of the department’s investigators.

The groups recently filed a brief in federal court seeking input for a consent decree between Cleveland and the U.S. Justice Department that Judge Solomon Oliver Jr. signed June 12.

The groups also are asking Oliver to change the agreement to have the person appointed to the newly created position of police inspector general report to the mayor and city council and not the police chief.

They also want him to expand collection of race and gender information for police complaints and to add a provision that addresses how officers interact with children.