A trio of former Columbus police leaders said Wednesday that Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council have jumped on the political-correctness bandwagon in criticizing what they said is one of the best police departments in the country.

Former Division of Police Chiefs Kim Jacobs and Walter Distelzweig, and retired Deputy Chief John Rockwell, met with reporters Wednesday to discuss low morale among officers, a lack of support from city officials, and the policing climate in the wake of nationwide protests over racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody in late May.

Jacobs, who retired as chief in February 2019, said she has talked to a number of officers in recent weeks who say they feel that they cannot do their job as well as in the past because of second-guessing coming from City Hall and the public.

"This noticeable shift from praise in the past to accusatory generalizations is dismaying to them," Jacobs said. "Our citys residents need to know how these great officers feel about them. What is being painted about them by a few is not a true representation."

Rockwell said he spoke with former Chief James Jackson, who was unable to attend Wednesdays meeting but wanted to pass along a message to the community.

"He particularly wanted me to express that there is not systemic racism (in the Columbus Division of Police). He wanted me to absolutely emphasize this," Rockwell said. "This is from a (Black) man who was subject to that for years."

Distelzweig, who retired as chief in 2012, said policing has evolved from when he started at the academy in the early 1970s. It now includes a significant emphasis on less-lethal options, he noted.

"One piece of equipment we were issued was a wooden nightstick," he said. "On our tool belt was our firearm, a nightstick, and that was it."

The former police leaders also said they are concerned about gun violence in the city, and they said the citys leaders need to be more proactive in stopping it rather than focusing only on reforms of the police division.

"Its appalling to me that the response has been fairly quiet," Jacobs said. Officers "see those people dying on the streets, they witness the inhumanity if you ask me of what people can do to other people. They see those children and parents crying, and they suffer from that drama and trauma on a regular basis, and someone sits back and calls a press conference and says (police) shouldnt do that anymore."

Distelzweig said there are "council members talking about the number of helicopters we have, and we should be talking about, How many shootings did we have last night, and what are we doing about it? We need to be adding equipment and officers."

All three former police leaders also took issue with statements made by Ginther in the weeks following the protests alleging systemic racism in the division. They also called out the mayor for saying there was a lack of holding officers accountable.

"It feels like a bunch of people jumped on a bandwagon of hate the police right now," Jacobs said. "Theres lots of healing that needs to be done."

About 15 minutes after Wednesdays meeting ended, Ginther sent an email to all division personnel that was obtained by The Dispatch. In that email, Ginther said that he supports both the police and reform, and that those two ideas are not mutually exclusive.

"We launched independent investigations into police misconduct because, again, we must be able to hold police accountable if they violate their oath and the rights of others. Support does not negate accountability," Ginther wrote.

Jacobs said that during her tenure, she recommended that 23 officers be fired, and 17 others resigned while under investigation for an offense for which they could have been fired. She said civilian oversight exists in the city because the director of public safety, a mayoral appointee, has the final say on firing or hiring an officer.

Other oversight methods, such as a civilian review board, are likely to do little to strengthen the discipline process, Jacobs said.

"We cant treat cops (all one way) based on the fact they wear a uniform," she said. "You have to have a board that doesnt bring a bias into that."

Rockwell said the civilian police review board proposed by city officials would need to have law enforcement experience or training in law enforcement policies to make informed decisions about how officers behaved in situations.

"When people start dictating policy and they have no law enforcement background and training, its dangerous to our citizens and our officers," he said. "We wouldnt send an officer to a fire scene and tell the fire personnel how to put out the fire. Thats kind of what were looking at here."

Rockwell said officers will be hesitant to make what would have been instinctual decisions in some situations if someone is strictly looking to punish officers without context.

"Were going to have an officer killed or a citizen killed because an officer hesitates and is so concerned about being judged that they dont do the right, immediate thing," he said.

Rockwell added that Ginther has a chance to set the standard nationally for how police reform and evolution will look, but the mayor has to be willing to be a partner, not a unilateral leader.

"Were here to say you have a great department, and seek out their experience," he said. "Dont just ram change down their throat."

Distelzweig said the city administration, Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, the community and the police division need to come together for the healing process to begin and for any changes to have lasting impact.

"I dont know why that line has been drawn in the sand between the administration and the FOP and the police department," he said. "The line has to be taken out. We have to sit down and talk about this issue. Weve got to come together. Its the community that is going to lose."

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

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