Community Relations Service

Daryl Borgquist
202/305-2966

     WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the signing of an agreement between the City of Springfield, Ohio and the Coalition for Justice and Equality on policing issues mediated by the Community Relations Service (CRS). The agreement will be signed in the City Hall Forum Conference Room, 76 East High Street, Springfield, Ohio (937/324-7700) at 11:30 a.m. today, November 7, 2003.

     The mediation agreement, called a covenant of commitment, is the result of more than 15 months of mediation with the Community Relations Service. The agreement developed by the parties to resolve policing issues was approved by the Springfield city commission earlier this year.

     The covenant addresses the issues of community policing, tracking traffic stops data, cultural diversity training, promotions, and alleged officer misconduct. The parties have also collaborated on a new city ordinance that establishes a citizens advisory group designed to promote a partnership between the police division and the community.

     The coalition is a group of community members and clergy. They include Bishop Cecil pratt, pastor Earnerst Brown, Pastor Larry Coleman, Pastor Darryl Grayson, Minister Mustafaa Islam, Elder Ronald Logan, Elder Garfield Parker, and Douglas Haynes, esq.

     CRS is a unique federal component dedicated to preventing and defusing racial and ethnic conflicts. For more information about the Community Relations Service, a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, see its web site
at: www.usdoj.gov/crs.

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