The Cincinnati Police Division has started analyzing the U.S. Department of Justice's recommendations for change, with officials figuring out which ones are easily doable versus the items with which they disagree.

        Chief Tom Streicher said teams of division personnel will be assigned categories to pick through. That research will help him sort out on which topics the federal investigators might have been confused and need clarification and which suggestions he won't mind doing because they're “good, healthy and necessary.”

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        “There are some things where we think there were misunderstandings,” the chief said.

        “We think we can clear those up through conversation. But we don't want to just start throwing accusations back and forth.”

        He also has appointed Capt. Paul Humphries, formerly a night chief, as head of special projects. The 15-year veteran will coordinate the effort to implement some changes recommended by Justice or the Cincinnati CAN commission. He might end up having a small group of officers working for him, the chief said, and likely only on a temporary basis.

        “Somebody's going to have to work closely with these groups,” Chief Streicher said, “and with the division, too, to incorporate what we do.”

        The federal lawyers and their hired experts started a “patterns and practices” investigation into the police division after the April protests and riots and at Mayor Charlie Luken's invitation.

        They have praised the division for its cooperation.

        But the 23-page report last week still stung, because of zingers like a recommendation that essentially said Cincinnati commanders need to get out more and see programs elsewhere. The recommendations focused on five areas — use of force and the reporting of it, public accountability, training and monitoring.

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