DAYTON — A community police relations coordinator who worked with Dayton police resigned, effective last week, citing frustrations and a lack of change within the police department.
>>RELATED: Dayton announces 5 new police department initiatives aimed at improving community relations
Jared Grandy tendered his resignation effective May 29, according to a personnel file obtained by News Center 7. He resigned under the city’s Voluntary Separation Plan, accepting a voluntary buyout, and chose to leave his position a month early, records show. His resignation was set to take effect July 31, but was moved up to May 29.
While a reason for his resignation was not specifically given, proceeding social media posts and an interview with media members indicated frustration and a lack of change within the department as part of the reason for Grandy’s departure.
>>George Floyd: Most arrested in Dayton weekend protests were from city, surrounding areas
Grandy worked as a relations coordinator for over three years for the Community Police Council, a group formed under the Human Relations Council that is separate from the police department. The CPC was formed with the goal of developing accountability, respect, and trust between citizens and police, according to council’s website.
Grandy spoke with reporters Wednesday after the city’s press conference announcing five new police department initiatives for improving community relations. Among many accusations, Grandy called Dayton Police Chief Richard Biehl a “brick wall” regarding changes and suggestions proposed by the CPC.
Biehl dismissed Grandy’s accusations during the city’s news conference, calling them “fundamentally not accurate.”
Erica Fields, the Executive Director of the Dayton HRC, which includes the CPC, told News Center 7′s Sean Cudahy there has been frustration overall in a lack of timely changes within the police department.
“I just want to be on record saying there has been frustration with the ability to move faster than we have. When you start challenging cultures; when you start making people accountable; when you start fixing and wanting to make processes more effective; that’s some real soul digging that you have to do and not everybody’s necessarily ready for those conversations,” Fields said in a phone call with Cudahy.
Fields, like Grandy, praised the initiatives announced today by Whaley, Biehl, and other city leaders. Fields called the five initiatives “a step in the right direction.”
The city’s initiatives announced Wednesday include greater transparency to report suspected police misconduct, reviewing use of force policies, continuing bias and de-escalation trainings for all officers, reviewing recruitment of officers and increasing diversity within the department, and deepen community engagement between citizens and officers.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
