The Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority is looking for seven Cuyahoga County residents to create their own the first ever Citizen Control Committeeor COC.
“The COC is a voluntary and proactive effort that seeks to give the community a voice and increase accountability by independently reviewing and investigating public complaints about alleged violations by the GCRTA Transit Police Department,” said GCRTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer India L. Bird Terry.
In addition to a strong moral code and the ability to remain objective and confidential, the RTA seeks residents over the age of 18 who represent the diversity of Cuyahoga County’s 59 communities and 1.2 million residents.
On his websiteThe transportation authority requires members who “reflect GCRTA’s customer base and are diverse in age, gender, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, military status, transit dependency and geography.”
While there is no experience requirement for committee members, RTA says at least one member will be a retired police officer with experience at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.
Committee members will be responsible for holding public meetings to review appeals of police misconduct investigations, listening to public concerns about police conduct, participating in trainings and events to learn about police work and increasing cultural awareness and sensitivity, and reviewing transit police policies and procedures and interactions with elected officials.
There is no date yet for the opening of the committee, but according to Public Information Officer Robert Flaig, the RTA is very excited to create a Citizen Oversight Committee this year.
Applications can be sent by email [email protected]. They must be submitted in person, by mail or through email until February 24, 2023.
https://www.clevescene.com/news/civilian-oversight-coming-to-rta-transit-police-41211266
