Jun 25, 2024
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) Board of Trustees voted and approved two new members to serve on the Civilian Oversight Committee (COC) during today’s Board Meeting. The new members, Michael Blake and Jonathan England were sworn in by GCRTA Senior Counsel, Anna Hlavacs. Both individuals were selected by the GCRTA Board of Trustees through an application and interview process.
“I am extremely excited to welcome our two new members to the COC,” said GCRTA Board Vice President Lauren R. Welch, Chair, Ad Hoc Selection Committee for the COC. “Their collective work experience and expertise in community service and safety programs make them valuable assets to the team.”
The role of a COC member includes:
- Improving relationships by fostering communication between community and police.
- Increasing public understanding of GCRTA police policies and procedures.
- Improving the quality of Transit Police Internal Affairs investigations.
- Recommending and identifying areas of concern and offering options to improve policing.
The new members will receive training and familiarization on police tactics, bias-free policing, federal, state, and local laws involving police-citizen encounters, GCRTA Transit Police policies, procedures, and disciplinary rules, and GCRTA’s Code of Ethics.
“GCRTA stands firm in the belief that a blend of traditional policing and modern civilian outreach is an effective combination in resolving issues identified aboard public transit, or at public transit stations or transit centers,” said GCRTA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer India L. Birdsong Terry. “As we move forward, our Transit Police will continue to review our policing and safety strategy to increase visibility, deter crime, and assist in investigation resolution. These efforts are intended to assist and enhance the overall safety of our customers, employees, and the public.”
For a complete overview of COC visit https://www.riderta.com/coc for details.