CLEVELAND, Ohio — The City of Cleveland and the U.S. Department of Justice have jointly asked a federal judge to end the consent decree that has governed the city’s police force for nearly a decade, citing what officials call “self-sustaining” progress in reforming the department’s practices, policies and culture.
The joint motion, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, would terminate the 2015 agreement that placed the Cleveland Division of Police under federal oversight following a Justice Department investigation that found officers routinely used excessive force and violated constitutional rights.
Mayor Justin Bibb said the move reflects years of cooperation and reform since the decree was enacted. “Our police division has made tremendous strides toward constitutional policing and building trust with the people we serve,” Bibb said in a statement. “This milestone shows Cleveland is ready to maintain those standards on its own.”
The consent decree — one of the most sweeping in the nation — required major changes to police use-of-force policies, training, transparency, officer discipline, and community engagement. A court-appointed monitoring team has tracked and reported the department’s progress since 2015.
U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko said the Justice Department agrees that Cleveland has reached sufficient compliance to sustain reforms without federal oversight. “This joint motion recognizes the city’s good-faith effort and measurable improvements,” Lutzko said. “Our shared goal has always been a department that upholds the Constitution and earns public trust.”
The motion still requires approval from U.S. District Judge Solomon Oliver Jr., who has overseen the decree’s implementation. Judge Oliver will review the city’s compliance reports, public feedback, and the monitor’s findings before ruling on whether to formally dissolve the agreement.
Community leaders offered cautious optimism about the shift. Some praised the progress made, while others warned that accountability must not fade once the monitors leave. “Ending federal oversight doesn’t mean the work is done,” said LaTonya Goldsby, president of Cleveland’s Black Lives Matter chapter. “We need ongoing transparency and community involvement to make sure reforms truly last.”
If approved, Cleveland would join cities such as Seattle and New Orleans that have recently moved to conclude federal monitoring, marking a new chapter in the city’s long effort to rebuild trust between police officers and residents.