Two draft agreements circulated between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD) reveal several differences. Among them:

Pointing weapons

        • DOJ: Make officers explain in writing why they drew their gun and pointed it at someone, and have supervisors evaluate the officer's decision.

        • CPD: Not addressed. Department officials and the Fraternal Order of Police have argued such a policy could damage morale and endanger officers.

Canines

        • DOJ: Train dogs to bark, not bite, when they find a suspect.

        • CPD: Handlers will call their dogs off a bite as soon as it is safe to do so. It's not safe for officers if the dogs can't bite.

       Foot pursuits

        • DOJ: Require officers to, before running after somebody, consider such factors as location, lighting and the ability to apprehend the suspect later. Many of these issues were involved in the chase and fatal shooting of Timothy Thomas in Over-the-Rhine.

        • CPD: Not addressed.

Choke holds

        • DOJ: Explicitly prohibit them. The hold was an issue in the November 2000 death of Roger Owensby Jr., who was asphyxiated in the parking lot of a Roselawn gas station.

        • CPD: Choke holds are prohibited “except where deadly force is authorized.”

Use-of-force continuum

        • DOJ: Write an order telling officers to follow a graduated scale of force options, from chemical spray to firearms.

        • CPD: The academy will teach “continuum concepts.” Supervisors say they're concerned officers may become hesitant to move quickly to a necessary amount of force.

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